This past August, I moved to a new home. While packing I found a decades old box filled with ticket stubs, photos, and all sorts of trinkets. I counted the stubs, 126 shows with Jerry, 17 JGB Shows. I am sure I lost a few along the way too.
I filled out my envelopes for mail order today. I will go with reasonable expectations. I don't expect to hear the past, but I will enjoy that end of what’s left.
Here is one of my old Trading badges from when I had a seat on the AMEX back in the late 1990's. Good old Dark Star Trading was once a very profitable company! I did a lot of road shows back in those days. The road was a lot easier in those days since I was making a living. Back in high school going on the "road" meant sleeping in the Ford Fairmont wagon which I got to borrow from my parents. In college I upgraded myself to a 1980 Suby GL Wagon. The all wheel drive wagon was perfect for getting out of the mud covered lots in Alpine Valley after a nasty storm..... Ah the good old days.
I was on the exchange floor when the news of Jerry's death came across the tape. Right up on the huge live news board, in the days before the internet was really big. I stood around for an hour and then left the floor to head up to my office. Sat around and lamented all the great things that would never happen again.
What a waste. Here was a man who had a huge following of loyal fans yet he chose to surround himself with enablers, who leached off of him and contributed to his death. I was initially saddened by his death and then annoyed that something I enjoyed so much would never happen again because of scourge of drugs. I am not so innocent, I have had my own bouts with substance abuse (not to the depth of Garcia). I also looked around and saw what I was missing and thankfully had the drive to put them aside.
I am looking forward to going to the shows. I love Chicago having spent time on the CME as a trader. I go with an open mind and just to enjoy the last breath of a once great experience.