Finding the babysitter was key!
Luckily, Andrew (Scott's 21yo cousin) was available! Next task was to figure out how to get into the city with the least amount of hassle..Caltrain doesnt run on the weekends until June..I wasnt sure who all from the Peninsula was going to the Seva thing...With DSO at the Fillmore and Steve Kimock in Santa Cruz (about an hour or 2 away from SF) What few Deadscene people I know from here were scattered about...Folks had already made plans for those 2 other shows before Seva thing was on the radar..even so, Seva did sell out...
Had it figured out that Andrew could drop me off at the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) station in Millbrae-which is by SFO and is the closest station to my house....Then, Jase (my adult son) called to say he was dropping by to pick up his mail. Jase lives in SF and offered to drop me off to Scott(working at the shop) in the Mission..
For once I was actually early! I hung out at the Pawn Shop watched Scott whirling around..usually he works the desk when I'm there but Saturday he was busy with sales. The shop was packed with folks looking to buy Mother's Day gifts....Watching the crazy goings on at the shop is a show in itself...

Shop closed about 5pm- scott changed his clothes and off we went to O'Farrell street - lots of parking available..Just as we got out of the car- Katrinka, Loie & Graceful Dead(all Deadnetters) were walking up the street. We walked together to the GAMH...The ladies had been to see Kimock the previous nights at GAMH and knew which door to stand in front of...We were the 2nd group in line..Enjoyed watching familiar faces and greeting friends as they marched toward the line....About 6 20 ish, the doors opened..Our dinner tickets got checked, our hands stamped and we were each given a Reserved seating card to hold our choice of table space...Well being among the first to be let in, we selected a table in the front row (of course!) a little on the right of Dead Bobby Center. On our immediate left, was Dr Brilliant's table (He the Macher of the evening-a board member and a founder of Seva)...
EasyWind with a friend and Karina (Deadnet) sat at the table with us. I was/am sorry that Linda & Tim didnt make it. They had called to let us know earlier, they had easily found a couple to buy their dinner tickets as the event had sold out.
Dinner and appetizers were immediately available..and the cocktail waitresses were prompt in taking orders..Wine, water, beer and soft drinks were complimentary (part of dinner) until 8pm when the doors opened up to the non dinner crowd. Scott and I drink one drink at a time, diet coke for me and water and beer for him. I hate to be the party police but a lot of folks took advantage of the "free" drinks and loaded up on the booze- ordering multiple beer/cups of wine at a time. A woman at a nearby table was hoarding at least 6 full glasses of wine, which did not serve her well later on in the evening(If you already read some of the last couple of daze of blog you already know what happened) ...
I'm eating lite these daze, so finished dinner early and went to see how the silent auction was going- it was located up stairs, the place was filling up and the stairs were full of people, I was walking up behind a tiny woman with really red hair, when she took a step, people parted like royalty was coming through,definately the person to be following! after overhearing people say "Bonnie!" a few times, I realized that the red hair, with the wide white streak was (duh!) Bonnie Raitt!
There were fun things at the auction...posters, photos,handbills,prints, some artwork, some vacation packets, surprisingly, there was a year membership to the prestigious Presidio Golf Club! But the least expensive item, was the folk forest smoker guy I made and donated for the occasion..went over to make sure he had all his pieces together and take a last look...I know he got at least one bid, and thats pleasing because even the minimum bid will help 2 people overcome blindness thanks to The Seva foundation!!
I will wait on the musical evaluation of the night for someone better versed in describing music comes along with a review (Mazzy?) Bobby was fantastic! I love the Waybacks and they looked just as stoked to be there as they looked in March at the Fillmore..They really locked in well with the Bobstar too!
Interesting song selections- the railroad & folk tunes we don't see Bobby do so often, had me glowing! But the other song selections seemed to be almost aimed right as Scott's heart...All week he had been sort of touching on Sunday being his first Motherless Mother's Day..And after all day/week of helping folks pick out gifts for their moms, he really couldnt avoid thinking of her...and I gave him a little hug and squeeze during (a very excellent version) Birdsong "Sleep in the stars" and also through Cassidy...To really cap off the personalized set, the encore was "Like A Rolling Stone!" Of all Dylan songs- We got the one with a Pawn shop reference...I can't remember when the last time if ever I've heard Bobby do that one-well, they traded off on the verses so it really wasnt
100% Bobby but still a nice surprise...
Had a few fun moments..no Bobby moment, but it was fantasical enough just sitting maybe 4ft in front of him while he was on stage..ringside primo seats...Got to chitchat with the singing AJ, as he was checking the plugs & wires for Bobby's equipment. He always looks so intent on what he is doing when he is working that I don't think I've had any interaction with him in all my years (oy! years!) of Ratdogging around...so it was nice to hear his voice, see him smile and score a little hug too...wish I hadnt asked about Europe though :o( ...He was bummed that it doesnt seem to be coming off and informed me that he had heard that the eurotraders offered to help launch the band off over there...well, before I could get too into it with him, he had stuff to go do...
But speaking of Europe... Dave B and Laurie- taper vets of the two Eurodog excursions were spotted in the house! Nice to chat with them..Dave said his favorite UK Show was Manchester...
More later...