On August 9, 1995 the following was sent to many Deadheads.

On June 12 we posted a note that in essence told all the Deadheads that our son Ken Putnam was killed on May 23 on his way from the Las Vegas shows to the Seattle shows. At that time we told you his dog, Maydia, was lost in the Nevada desert and we were desperately searching for her. We let you know that Ken had been a Deadhead since 1984 and had been to over 300 shows.

The outpouring of responses to our post was incredible. My wife and I were (are) very moved by these notes. The 100's of replies have given us some of the strength to carry on. Thank you all for your thoughtfulness.

I have been meaning to respond individually to each of you who wrote us but could never seem to find the time. I then decided to write a general note and couldn't seem to get around to that either.

When I found out about Jerry's (Garcia) death and read the many notes, I couldn't wait any longer, and I am writing this to all of you. I hope if you wrote us individually you will not mind this general note.

First of all we are very much struck by the thought that Jerry and our son are somehow together.

Before I tell you about Maydia (our son's dog), please indulge me while I relate to you a little about Ken's death and the events afterward.

Our son, along with the driver of the van that they were riding in, was killed on May 23 on Highway 93, 57 miles south of Ely Nevada. There was also a girl in the van that escaped with only two broken toes. Maydia disappeared. Ken had raised her from a puppy, and she was a "road dog" that went with him on all the tours. They ate and slept together. Her disappearance greatly added to our grief and we yearned to find her.

When Ken was killed my wife, Ken's Deadhead brother Jeff, and I went out to Ely to bring his body back to Downers Grove Illinois. His oldest brother, Steve, waited for us at home and notified friends and family. We had what we called a "Celebration of Ken's Life". He was an artist, and we displayed his artwork. His brother, Jeff, picked out his clothes (he was dressed as a typical Deadhead). We played Grateful Dead music, we danced, read letters to and from him, had guitar music played to him and stories told about him.

We had him cremated and took his ashes to Boulder Creek California, where he had lived for the last three years. We went to a large redwood, known as the "Big Tree", where he used to go to meditate. With the help of his friends, we again celebrated his life and spread his ashes around the "Big Tree", which is now known as "Ken's Tree".

At Ken's Tree the Deadheads passed out roses and pictures of Ken. They had also taken some of his artwork and made t-shirts which they gave out to everyone. Trees were planted, gifts were left, and stories were told.

Our family came back to Woodridge Illinois. Five weeks after our son's death, I had just about given up hope of ever finding Maydia. I began to believe the Ely sheriff's predications that she could never survive in the Nevada desert and was probably destroyed by the coyotes or a mountain lion. However on June 27 I got a call from a young man in Alamo Nevada (which is 127 miles south of where the accident occurred). He told he had read an article in the Lincoln County Register that described Maydia and our search for her. He was pretty sure he had her. A Company we are associated with, in order to help us, had an article written that ran in the Ely newspaper and was evidently reproduced in the Register.

Jamie, the young man who called, told me that the dog had shown up at the truck stop, where he works, about three weeks previously (which would have been about two weeks after the accident). He said the only problem was that after she had been at the truck stop for about two weeks she had been hit by a car and had a broken leg. A traveling vet had attended to the leg, and she thought she would mend OK.

We sent pictures to Jamie, he sent pictures to us, and we confirmed that yes the dog was Maydia! Harry and Heather, friends of Ken and our family, were coming from Boulder Creek to the Chicago Dead Shows. They told us it would be an honor and a privilege to get Maydia and bring her to us. So --- on July 7 we were reunited with our son's dog!!

We went to the Dead Show on July 9 (ironically this was to be Jerry's last show). My wife and I have been going to the Chicago Dead Shows for the last five years. The show was bitter/sweet for us. We had 100 more t-shirts made up and passed them out to Ken's friends. After the show we met in the parking lot, formed a circle, lit candles, and paid tribute to our son.

FOOTNOTES:

1. Jamie said that while Maydia was hanging around the truck stop she would sniff at everyone that came there, as if she was looking for someone.

2. I had a phone record that indicated that our son had made a call from Alamo about two hours before he was killed. I had Harry and Heather check the number at the pay phone at the truck stop and sure enough this is where my son made the last call of his life.

3. Jamie told us that many people had come to Maydia's aid. He told us that a woman Veterinarian had wrapped Maydia's broken leg and gave her shots. My wife Karen had gotten the name and 'phone number of the vet, since we wanted to thank and reimburse her. When we got home Karen tried the number and reached a Veterinary Clinic, but they had no vet by that name and in fact they told us that they didn't have any women vets in their clinic. Karen even had our vet look in his directory for that area and he could not find anyone by that name. We believe that somehow Ken had not only lead Maydia to the Truck Stop, but he made sure she got medical attention.

4. We took Maydia to an orthopedic vet who performed extensive surgery on her leg (the ligaments were destroyed). She is in a cast, and we hope she will be as good as new in about nine more weeks. We asked the vet if based on the condition of Maydia's pads could she have walked 120 miles. The vet told us that this dog had walked a long way, and it is very possible that she walked from the accident site to the truck stop.

5. Various family members, after meeting Ken's friends, have totally changed their minds about Deadheads. In fact some of them came to the Chicago shows to see what it was all about.

[UPDATE - Maydia is alive and well and still lives with us. She is a daily joy! In fact on July 20, 2003, she turned ten years old. We had a birthday party for her. We invited our neighbors and their dogs. Instead of gifts for Maydia, our guests brought contributions for the Humane Society.]

We have learned a lot from our son(s) and their Deadhead friends (most of which are our friends too), but I think one of the most important things we have learned is that

Love to all