On Friday August 7th I embarked on an adventure to go see Taylor Swift in Seattle. I knew that whatever happened this weekend would be a story to remember, but as it turns out, it became more than just a fun story.
My best friend Maddy has known me for 16 years, and thought that time we have shared in many interesting experiences. Nothing so far can touch this weekend.
Before even getting on our bus to Seattle Maddy and I managed to get kicked out of a Goodwill for laughing too loud, be read a poem about soulmates that made us cry, and scare my mother into thinking we were lost or dead. The last part wasn't fun. We made it intact to Seattle though, and I even got to have two of my favorite people meet, my childhood Bff and my Bff from College.
Then it was time for the concert.
I think I started my freak out about two blocks away from the venue. We stopped by a deli to get something to eat before having our minds blown away and our voices lost. There were hundreds of people in the street, some in costumes, some in homemade shirts, others just looked so happy to be there. I walked to the line we would stand in happily in cat ears and eating a grilled cheese. Maddy kept telling me not to cry.
Getting into the venue wasn't hard at all, the line went by fast, the bag check was easy and the workers were extremely helpful at finding our seats. As we walked around we saw squads of people in synchronized costumes yelling T-swift songs down all the hallways. Maddy kept telling me not to cry.
We got to our seats and took a moment to let it soak in that we were about to see Taylor Swift live. Something I had been waiting for since I got my ticket at Christmas and something I had been holding out for since my grandmother passed. My grandmother gave me the tickets, like she had Taylor's last two tours. It was a big deal she would constantly talk about how she tried to get me floor seats but she just didn't click buttons fast enough. None of it matter though because I made it. I was there. I was sitting in that seat ready, and Maddy kept telling me not to cry.
We decided that we need snacks naturally so we got these garlic fries, which had so much garlic on them that we got kettle corn to wash it down. Looking back on that I feel a little sick to my stomach, but it seemed smart then. We eventually also got something to drink, right before Shawn Mendes went on. I was blown away by how talented the just turned 17 year old was. Naturally Maddy kept telling me not to cry.
Next was Vance Joy who did the cutest little march the entire time he played live. I had know of him and heard him before, but live he was even better. I think it's because there is something about hearing them shout it right at you. What I kept noticing though was how not all 60,00 people were there yet. It might just be me but I love hearing the openers and giving them just as much respect and attention as I did the headliner. Vance joy ended his set with Riptide and Maddy told me not to cry.
Then we waited, knowing any second we would be seeing the Taylor Swift. She was actually there, she would be in front of me (from a distance) singing songs that help me get through life. The our bracelets all flashed along with the stage and it said "Welcome To New York" and in time with the flash you heard a track of her voice singing along. I burst into tears. Then there she was.
She opened the show with her song "Welcome to New York" which was the perfect way to say hello to everyone in the crowd. Out there dancing in her glittery bomber jacket and sunglasses. Next was "New Romantics" one of my favorite anthems of the year, and a bonus track on her album "1989". After that was the first full on costume change and thematic change of the night. She was now in an all black suit style outfit singing (and simultaneously blowing us away) with her hit "Blank Space"
I wasn't expecting for her next song to hit me like it did, but I didn't know that it would keep happening all night as well. Her new haunting version of IKYWT made me think back to a guy who was less than good for me. Something about this version and singing along made me feel as if he was gone for good from my head. And that kept happening.
"All You Had to Do Was Stay", "Bad Blood" and "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together", all made old wounds close up and vanish from my mind. The boy who wanted me and then played with my emotions before saying we were over? Gone. The girl who betrayed me and picked a guy over our friendship? Gone. MY ex boyfriend who couldn't take the hint? Gone. It was as if Swift was an angel who's mission was to heal the wounds and broken bits of my heart.
What really got to Maddy and I though were her songs "I Wish You Would" and her acoustic version of "Mean". To us IWYW meant us missing each other. We only see each other once a year and after years of that it can really get to you. So wishing we would come back is something that happens all the time. Mean made us think of two individuals in our lives who shouldn't have left us damaged, but did. It's the people who should love you unconditionally that can hurt you the most. Yet, holding her hand, crying, and screaming the words as loud as we could felt like the two young girls we were had grown up, and even though those things happen we had each other. It was life changing to us.
What was really amazing was listening to Taylor speak, her Clean speech was once again one of the most incredible things. It reminded me of why I love her as an artist and as a person.
"Be kind to yourself, because the mistakes we make in life don't have to be something that makes us feel tarnished or damaged. These can be things that we look back on as things we needed to experience in order to learn what we now know. And so instead of looking at your past regrets as something that makes you damaged, I want you to look at your mistakes as something that has made you, in the end, the opposite of tarnished. Your mistakes have made you clean."
She ended the show with of course "Shake it Off" and in that moment I did exactly that. I shook off the men who made me feel hurt or broken. I shook off the people who gave me fake friendships. I shook off the pain and suffering. For a moment I stood there dancing crazy with my best friend, beaming with light and joy, because I shook off all that made me feel sad. For that moment I was the happiest I had been in years. I am forever grateful for that.
What started as an adventure and a fun weekend, ended as a two hour long therapy session I was in desperate need of.
Taylor Swift never ceases to amaze me as a person, performer, or artist. I think that she is a voice for the people who feel so much so often. She tells the world it's okay to feel and express you feelings. It's okay to be sad, or happy, or mad. And it's okay to use your past, and your emotions as a way to create success for yourself. Although I have been a fan for years, it wasn't until this last year that I realized just how much of an important role she played for me. Her concert only solidified that as a fact. Since she said on Saturday that she thought of all of us in the audience as her friend I would like to say thank you, to my role model and friend Taylor Swift, for not only being the reason for my grand adventure, but for making it one I will never forget.
