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A Friend of the Devil Is a Friend of Mine
I never met Jerry Garcia in person, but he was one of my best friends and the inspiration for one of my favorite foods.
Jerry Garcia, a founder of the band Grateful Dead, guitarist, songwriter, and inspiration for Ben & Jerry’s “Cherry Garcia” ice cream, died 25 years ago this week.
I saw him perform about a dozen times, and listened to thousands of hours of his music, from Grateful Dead, Old & In the Way, New Riders of the Purple Sage, to his duos with David Grisman.
The Dead provided soundtracks to the episodes of my life, like when I was down to my last dollar in a brand new city, aching for some friendship and understanding:
“Asked me for a dime, a dime for a cup of coffee
I got no dime but I got some time to hear his story” — Wharf Rat, Grateful Dead
Or after a breakup:
“Here beside him stands a man
A soldier from the looks of him
Who came through many fights
But lost at love” — Terrapin, Grateful Dead
Or when trying to figure out where to go next with my life:
“You who choose to lead must follow
But if you fall you fall alone
If you should stand then who’s to guide you?
If I knew the way I would take you home” —…
