Under mandatory work and stay-at-home orders here in Virginia, my younger brother and I are coping. When Dwight is not here my vintage turntable usually blasts music throughout the house. He calls my vinyl collection “the Academy of Ancient 80s Music.” It’s filled with hundreds of albums I pulled out of storage a few years ago (here’s a previous blog about that: Multifarious Vinyl.) Treasures all!

Since Dwight is not such a fan of my treasures, as he took off for a bicycle ride the other day I switched on the stereo and whisked an oldie onto the turntable. One I have not heard in eons: The Grateful Dead’s American Beauty. (“Truckin” is a fav.)

Playing it brought back memories of fun times spent hanging out with university friends managing the stress of student life in the 1980s. Fun that continued after graduation when I worked in Washington, D.C. for a nonprofit foundation. One night as I worked late in our Capitol Hill office my friend Kim called to see if I was up for an outing. She and a group of her corporate work buddies were headed to see the Grateful Dead at RFK Stadium, located a few blocks from my office.

Someone couldn’t go at the last minute, so there was a free ticket for me (the nonprofit penny-pincher) if I wanted it. When they swung by to pick me up they were all wearing appropriate tie-dyed apparel, then there was Virginia in a navy blue dress suit and pearls. (That was What We Wore to work in those days.)

At RFK a huge sea of tie-dye greeted us, but after the music started I didn’t care about my attire – the concert was totally AWESOME.

Listening to the American Beauty LP this week I played the B-side three times. “Truckin” is a fav, but another song had me tearing up. The words seemed to “Ripple” right into my heart, as we search to find still waters amidst new COVID-19 realities.

Since I’ve been humming it all week, today here’s a (very) inspirational rendition of the Grateful Dead’s “Ripple” performed by a diverse ensemble of international musicians connected through Playing For Change, an organization that promotes world peace and social change. This brought a few tears to Virginia’s eyes, too. (Watch and see why!)

Email readers you know the drill, link to the Roses website to watch the YouTube…

Reach out your hand if your cup be empty
If your cup is full may it be again
Let it be known there is a fountain
That was not made by the hands of men

 There is a road, no simple highway
Between the dawn and the dark of night…

(Song writers: Jerry Garcia/Robert C. Hunter)

grace, peace & (powerful) ripples

Virginia : )

“He leads me beside the still waters, He restores my soul…” (Psalm 23:2-3)