Michael Doc Watson

"Promised Land", Springfield Ohio Park, maybe ten years ago

Truckin’ I’m going home Whoa, whoa, Baby back where I belong. Back home, sit down, patch my bones, And get back truckin’ on. Sometimes the Light is all shining on me. Other times I can barely see. Lately it occurred to me, What a long strange trip it’s been.

The C19 situation really slowed me down. Going a long time without shows led me to get into recorded music from the early 70s , a whole group of stars which I call the “Tulsa Team” because almost all of them were playing rock n roll with Delaney, Bonnie, and Friends….Eric Clapton, Bobby Whitlock, Leon Russel, J J Cale, George Harrison, Rita Coolidge, Joe Gordon, Claud Ryder, and the great bands, “Derek and the Dominoes “ (very best electric guitar album ever) and “Joe Cocker, Mad Dogs and Englishmen” ( greatest rock n roll tour ever). I will put on DVDs, YouTube, or CDs on the living room system when the family is away and dance and rock out. I do admit that this music has taken over my enjoyment. my last DSO was the two nights at the Caverns. I was hoping to go to the DSO Nashville but I’m afraid this operation and hospital spell has squashed that possibility. If you are talking to any of the band please tell them why I can t be there. I know all of them (except Jeff) from my many years of hanging out around the band and all our friends. I miss Dark Star Orchestra, The Best Band In the Land Peace and Love Doc

The NG tube was removed this afternoon. Now I can swallow without pain. Maybe I ll get actual food tonight. Sure would be good to have some soft grits.

I m getting better day to day. Today I finally got an all liquid lunch, juice, chicken broth, lemons ice, and jello. Before this I had nothing, not even water, for two weeks. peace and Love Doc

Well I m in the hospital again after an emergency operation which removed ALL of my colon. Today marks second week being here. I m doing ok but recovery is very slow. Today’s CT scan indicated the remains of my inside, small intestine, was ok and no additional complications. ”I will survive” to dance again someday with all my friends out there. Peace and Love Doc

The Band is probably in Paris by now, Thursday afternoon. I wonder if anyone stayed over in London for all the ceremony going on there about the Royality. Now that brings to mind a question....Did the Grateful Dead ever play for members of the Queen's Court?

I heard from a couple other friends that they also have tested positive. The incubation time is said to be 3 to 5 days and symptoms might even take ten days to start so early testing might not show accurate results. Concerning the other item....I wish I could remember making out with any of the beautiful ladies. Peace and Love, Doc

Yep, so much fun being around all these friends and music. I really enjoyed walking along the long stright strench of campground, finding old friends and making new ones along the way. Found my family from Greenville and sat with them a while. They even walked the "five minute" distance from camp to cave... looked more like five miles as I sat in Tea's wild ride. The next night the blue bus was a fun ride with Top Hat driving on, playing like he was Casside. First sets both nights I found my way down front amongest the heavy dancers and high energy. The absolutly most beautiful lady in the world was just a bit behind. The band played hard and heavy and the fans really came alive for a long ovation of applause, hoot 'n hollering, and clapping when Lisa took the stage to join in singing. Saturday night with the trimmed down band the music was more serious with the Jerry Garcia Band sound. I love that music better than the jamming of the GD songs we have heard so much more often. But this old body couldn't keep up and deep into Saturday's second set I had to climb my way up the cave's hill out from the cool air of The Caverns. Two nights of music from The Best Band In The Land with my Good Friends all around...better than " Butterflies and Zebras, Moonbeams, and Fairytales..." Peace and Love, Doc

Wonderful time at the Caverns the last couple days but there was trouble at dawn this morning. I apologize to everyone for the noise this morning from my car horn going on at dawn while everyone was sleeping in their tents. I had trouble turning it off. Normally when that happens you can push the little red button on the key fob and the horn should turn off. But the horn would not turn off ! I found that the only way the horn would stop was when I started up the car. But if the car was turned back off after a minute or two the horn started beeping again, just starting all on its own. I remembered the second set of keys was clipped on the frame of the cot. That key fob was wet from the rain. But knowing that and drying the fob did not prevent the horn from starting again. So I decided I needed to get this car out of the campgrounds before everyone got woken up and kept up by my crazy car honking. I drove down the road a while and stopped at a Waffle House. I had both sets of keys and not in anyway that they could get pushed. Just as opening the door of Waffle House the horn set off again. Neither of the key fobs could turn it off. So I started the car again and the horn stopped. I then drove all the way home without stopping the car. Now sadly here at home the car has been quite since being turned off for a while. Peace and Love Doc

About the same with me. I don't bother with a tent so Rude's "hot tent" concerns don't apply. I think Rude is just concerned he might miss some camp side fun in the middle of the night when he is having a different fun in the air conditioned motel.

My health has been hold'n up OK. I just got to watch that I eat right. Been good day today. I got my car packed up ..I ll pick up ice 'n beer Friday morn and head up that way. just three more days If I count right.

I think Poetry Girl might have cancled because she wants to be taking care of a friend having an elective surgery. I hope I'm wrong and she comes to The Caverns. Peace and Love Doc

Excellent ! I was worrying that I would not get to visit with some of my Southern friends. Maybe a few others will now join in.

Sure would be nice to return to Springfield Ohio. That park is a magical place. The Springfield Arts festival runs June and July with several tribute bands playing there. Peace and Love Doc

"... being confused..." well, that's typical for me these days.

Sure will be cool to see you three again. Last time I remember was The Ledges with those two ruling the paths on their bikes. Wish Chuck would come out again to old home Southern roots. I think there should be a movement here to get Cuck to come to the Caverns, Peace and Love, Doc Sure wish Chuck would come out to another show or two at The Caverns. He should make a visit to his old Southern Roots and join us at The Caverns. How about us getting together and encourage Chuck to come came with us all. Peace and Love Doc

I hope to get there early

Lisa’s presentation of “Masters of War” was the highlight of this show. Bill said “strong” but Lisa sang with more power and emotion than even the brave Ukraines. I hope it was recorded for future display. Several other songs weaved this theme into last nights music. …something this world deserves. High in the balcony is certainly the place to be in The Palace. The sound is excellent, the view of the stage is good, dancing room along the open aile was full with friends, and being with those friends was the best part of the night. Since my body’s health can’t keep up with my mind I was mostly dancing in my seat with several beautiful ladies before me. Early in the evening I had run into a few friends and asked them to watch out for me since I had had a few beers before the show and was given a few little chunks of good candy. I was feeling good, better than I have since the last Jubliee. Thank you, both Sammy and Jordon, for making sure I was ok through out this wonderful night. I hope to see you guys again soon. Peace and Love Doc

A wonderful night for my fist show in a little over two years. Bill’s review covered the highlights quite well. I was particularly impressed by the sound in Terripin where Skip’s bass booms shook the walls. I too was upstairs center balcony with beautiful people dancing in the asile before me. The music was so good but more important was seeing many old friends and meeting new ones. I can t wait ‘till latter today we get to do it again. But Bill was slightly wrong in saying it was a “chilly” night….no it was damm cold for a young man like me traveling up North from our warm weather Georgia. Peace and Love Doc

Well then that makes my decision easier. see you there. Peace and Love, Doc

Smitty's is diffently a fun bar and small venue. I had lots of good times in that neighborhood.

Rude, You are missing the idea. You don't do the sitting, you organise the business. There are various mothers that don't care to see the show that their spouse is attending. These mothers can be gathered together to take care of the little ones.

Rude, Maybe this is a business you should start. You have good experiance now.

Another friend on our party line asked " 12-17-92 Baba O'Reilly, was pete Townsend singing?"