The Concert Experience

Yesterday evening, my sister and I were fortunate enough to attend a concert featuring one of our favourite bands -- The Summer Set. What makes this whole first-concert experience pretty darn amazing was how it started. The tickets went up in 2013 and I was unsure if I wanted to go or not. I had only recently purchased tickets to see The 1975 (who I cannot wait to see in May!), so I was worried this was going to place a strain on my wallet (in the end, it did, but it was worth it, obviously). Eventually, I caved and bought the tickets in January.

In my planner, I wrote the concert date as March 5th. In my head, the concert date was March 23. Why the 23rd, I have no idea. I kept reminding myself that it was the 23rd and knowing there was still loads of time to go, I didn't worry too much about how my sister and I were going to arrive at our destination. However, when my sister called me the weekend prior to March 5th and asked me why I hadn't reminded her of the concert on Wednesday, I realized I had made a big mistake with the dates. We ended asking our Dad to drop us, which messed with his work schedule, but thankfully, he wasn't too angry with us. Luckily for us, being so last minute and such didn't really make a big difference in anything at all.

When we reached the bar where The Summer Set were going to perform, there was already a long and waiting line outside the front doors. It was only 5:00 and the doors were not going to open until 7:00. Us and a large group of others waited outside for two hours and fifteen minutes in the freezing cold. I was stupid enough to forget to bring a hat or gloves to keep myself warm, and although my sister was kind enough to share her gloves with me, the blistering chill was relentless. There were many occurrences where I wanted to cry because I was so cold, I could not feel my toes, and my fingers were numb. I only wished the people inside would let us in. Of course, we didn't have to see the band, but the least they could have done was allowed us to stay warm. It was awfully rude of them to keep us waiting in the cold like that.

At around 7:15, they started letting people in (woohoo!). Anyone who was under age (below nineteen), got marked with two black X's on their hands (so they couldn't order alcohol). Walking into the actual place where the show was to be held, the first thing that caught my eye was seeing the band members sitting together near the back, signing things and chatting with fans. They were real, live band members! It was really cool. After coat-check, I was insanely nervous to go meet them (mostly because I hadn't actually known we would get the chance to meet the band, so I hadn't prepared what I was going to say). One of the guys working there sort-of pushed my sister and I go anyway, and the funny thing was, John (one of the members) noticed how reluctant we (mostly me) were to go. My sister took the lead, then, and dragged us over there. We were given a photograph of the band they signed for us:

what's really funny is that the band looks very little like
how they do in this photo (you know, haircuts and all)

And then, John high-fived me because he's amazing and he could tell I needed something to calm my nerves.

Once the concert started, it was just...words cannot describe the emotions I was feeling. Hearing the songs off their Legendary album after only having heard them through my speakers or my headphones, I was in awe of how much better they were live.

Halfway through the show, John and Brian played my favourite track off Legendary, acoustically, and I don't think I've ever been at such a loss for breath. The song is titled "Someday" and it means the world to me. Being the person that I am, where I don't know where I'm going at the moment and really, just the uncertainty of so many things in life, this song speaks to me in ways I can't explain. I wasn't able to record the whole performance (as my I ran out of memory on my phone), I did manage to catch a snippet of John talking about how he's a "massive fan" of the track as well.

The night was surely one to remember. I will never forget this concert and all the incredible feelings I went through whilst watching this incredible band perform. A big, enormous, ma-hoo-sive thank you to The Summer Set for everything. I now know what post-concert depression feels like.

- - -

I'll probably be writing about three more concerts I'm attending soon, yay. 

Thank you,

At the age of eleven, my family and I travelled back to my birthplace for my uncle's wedding. The whole of the country seemed to have gathered for the occasion and being the second-last person on my mother's side of the family getting married, we definitely had to go.

I was thrilled because I hadn't visited since I left when I was four years old. The place ought to have changed a lot in six years. And it had. My cousins were all grown up, my then-newly-wed aunts and uncles were beginning to learn the mass difficulty of marriage, and my old home had been occupied by a new family. But it was still home, my first home. 

The four months from July to the end of September were spent in bliss. I had the time of my life: laughing, dancing, singing, spending time with my cousins and attempting to refrain from correcting people's English. I never believed myself to be above anyone there who didn't know English, but it was nice to be fluent in two languages and show off a bit.

Unfortunately, come October, my siblings and I's school asked for our return or face expulsion.  My parents obviously freaked out when the notice came and we hurried back to Canada. I hadn't known then that my life would change drastically.

The year before, on our report cards, we had been assigned the name of our new class and teacher for the upcoming term. All my friends and I were lucky enough to be placed in the same class. We were overjoyed! However, due to my absence for an extended period of time, the class lists had been switched around and I was then put in another class with people I hardly knew.

It was only the fifth grade, but it was damn terrifying, especially  since I hadn't known anyone in my new class.

However, despite my lack of familiarity, every person I met was incredible in their own sense. From each of them, I learned so many things; things that carry through with me even now. I remember meeting two very kind girls who were the first to speak to me named Danielle and Robin. They were already friends and were sweet enough to ask me to sit with them during the class's daily reading circle where our teacher would read one chapter of a book to us while we listened intently. Danielle and Robin then went on to ask me to lunch and spend recess with them, as well. I was so grateful. Not only had they made my transition from knowing no-one to knowing a few people easy, they also proved to me how kindness can lead wonderful new friendships.

We were friends for a while, but even though, there were a few times where I was the last to leave the classroom for lunch period in fright that no one would want to spend time with someone like myself. I was horribly awkward and lacking in social skills. My teacher noticed this and jumped at the opportunity to show me something that has since changed my life...books. 

Years before in school, books were merely something I was forced to read as a part of the English curriculum. Yet, after the brilliant introduction from my fifth grade teacher, I was enthralled with the beauty of literature. Thus, starting my future fiction-writing career.

It began with the Horrible Harry series by Suzy Kline, Cam Jansen by David Adler, and Sideway Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar. These books were the foundation upon which my fascination and interest in the fiction world was built. I would read from them the Horrible Harry and Cam Jansen books daily, and look forward to hearing an installment of Sideway Stories from Wayside School as an audio-book with my whole class. These books were funny and sparked joy within me with every word.

I am so incredibly thankful to my fifth grade teacher for helping me find these amazing books and showing me how much more there was to life than my boring routine. These books allowed me escape from my large family, created entertainment other than television on Friday nights, and sought me through difficult times.

These days, I read more advanced novels (obviously), however, I will never forget my roots; the place where my love for English literature first sprouted. Because of my wonderful teacher and her kindness, I was able to find something in myself I never would have found on my own. I owe so much to her.

And thank God, I came back to Canada late, or else I never would have ended up in her lovely class.

Fate really does know what it's doing.