from North Carolina

Jer Bear,

Hey now, hope you are well. I'm a few weeks behind on the stream(7/10/90), but I'm enjoying the NC theme and thought I'd share a story:

In 1992 I was a young Marine stationed at Camp LeJeune, NC. When the boys announced they were playin' Charlotte, I immediately got myself some tix.
As luck would have it, my unit scheduled a Dress Blues Inspection the dayafter the show. ( All you need to know is that a Dress Blues Inspection in a major pain in the ass.) My Lieutenant told me there was no way he was going to let me leave to drive across the state to see the Dead and that if I did I would be considered AWOL. Needless to say, I left anyway, risking big trouble. I had spent the entire week before the show/inspection squaring away my shit so I'd be ready.

I drove 2 hours to Raleigh to pick up a buddy who was flying in from AZ for the show. We then drove 4 plus hours to Charlotte, arriving just in time for the First Set. It was a great show (6/18/92) with lots of moments. After the show, we drove for 6 non stop hours back across NC to get me back just in time for my 8am inspection. Peeled off a tie-dye and put on a
fresh uniform. Passed with flying colors despite absolutely no sleep. Best of all, I don't think my Lt ever knew I was gone, or if he did he was very cool about it.

Anyway, it was to be the last time I saw old Jer' play with the Dead ( I saw JGB once in '93). It was made even more meaningful because he sang Morning
Dew which was the tune that first got me hooked back when I was in 7th grade (Europe '72 version).

Thanks, as always for the stream and for letting me wander for a while again on those highways and back roads of North Carolina.

Rob M.