#snwt

August 19, 2011

We were both young when I first saw you, @taylorswift. Brace-faced and with my hair as long as it’s ever been, my first concert (first ever, not just first concert of yours) was The Speak Now World Tour, in July 2011, at Gillette Stadium. When this picture was taken, 14-year-old me was so excited but completely unaware that in just a short while we’d all be dancing as rain poured down. It was one of the best nights of my life, still is.

I’d loved you and your music since I was 9, and I took pride in (still do) being your biggest fan that I knew. I still remember telling all my cousins about what I thought your set list would be for the Speak Now concert (I *knew* what it would be for the most part, since I’d been doing furious research on TaylorConnect as I prepared for the show) as we all sang your songs the whole drive to Gillette in an old purple minivan (90s and 2000s kids know the type).

The girl on the left never would’ve dreamed that she would become the young woman on the right, in October 2017, just a couple days after turning 21, who got to tell you how much you mean to her/me, and say the simple but ever so meaningful “thank you” for all that you and your music have done to help me grow and shine. At 24 now, you are without a doubt one of the best decisions I have ever made—in giving your music that initial listen back in 2006 (2006?!! It seems so long ago, yet as if it was yesterday) and learning about and loving you as a person.

I have never been (and may never be) able to fully express my gratitude for your friendship, the big sister-I-never-had feeling you give me, your kindness to every person you meet, and your love for life and people. There are days I can think back to where you and your words have helped save me. I know you don’t take that lightly, and it’s one of the reasons I love you. You care, you are kind, you’re strong, empathetic, and brave.

Thank you for coming into my life when in many ways it was just getting started. The 9-year-old girl who found you and the 24-year-old woman still growing alongside you are both forever grateful for this Love Story.