T-Swift

I stopped really listening to and liking country music back in high school. I used to love it. Country of the 90s and early 2000s were my jam. But my taste in music shifted and it just didn't do it for me anymore. So imagine my surprise when I somehow came across the video for 'Tim McGraw' (in 2006, long after I'd given up on country) on CMT and fell in love. I've been a Taylor fan ever since.

I tried getting tickets to her Speak Now tour but it quickly sold out (duh Ashley!) and the only tickets being sold were way too expensive. Womp womp. I was so bummed. Dustin got me the Speak Now Tour DVD and although I loved it, it just wasn't the same.

I was much more prepared when the Red tour rolled around. I'm currently signed up for every Taylor newsletter and follow her on every social media site. Not ashamed ONE BIT. I was bound and determined to go. I remember frantically logging on Ticketmaster at work back in November and scooping up tickets within just a minute. I couldn't believe that I was able to get them so easily. I couldn't believe I was going to see my BFF. Is this real life?!

And then I had to wait FIVE MONTHS.

Then it happened. April 11th finally rolled around after all this time. I changed into my red polka dotted dress (purchased specifically for this event) at work and ran out the door to pick up Jesenia. Luckily, traffic wasn't bad and we made it to Amway around 6PM. Trying to park in the garage was kind of annoying. There were cops directing traffic but all their hand signals were so confusing. One is telling me to go. The other is telling me to stop and wait. I almost ran into one. AHHH. As we pull into the garage Jesenia spots one of the Red Tour buses and I'm all "Hurry take a picture!!" and she's like "Ok ok!". So funny! Before we knew it, we were walking on the bridge to Amway and then it just hit me like a ton of bricks - TAYLOR SWIFT AND I ARE IN THE SAME BUILDING. Time to freak out. Jesenia and I walked around and enjoyed looking at all of the other fans (some crazy outfits and posters) and we took a few pictures next to some of her wardrobe. We were feet away from her clothes. Like whaa?

 

Side Note: Dustin was in Tampa watching a Pens game at the same time I was watching Taylor. I was going to go to the game with him until I realized it was on the same night. His boss asked him why I didn't come and when he told him he said "She doesn't seem like the kind of girl who likes Taylor Swift." This made me laugh. I'm full of surprises! Oh and the Pens killed the lightning 6 to 3. Bam!

We found our seats and were both kind of amazed at how good they were. I could tell by the seating chart they were decent but they were even better than that in person. We were dead center on the lower level. We sat and waited very impatiently. We got up to get drinks and by the time we sat down someone was on the stage but it wasn't Ed or Taylor so no. No offense to him of course.

Ed Sheeran was up next. He has incredible. I mean, I knew of him and I liked a handful of his songs but damn does he put on a hell of a show. He really won me over with his live performance. He didn't have anyone up on stage with him. He did it all himself. He would loop a beat and then sing over it. Jesenia said "He's like a swiss army knife!". He really is. And let me sound like a 12 year old boy-crazy girl for a minute...that ginger was damn sexy too.

Then it was Taylor time. EEEE! Everyone started screaming and I first thought it was because Taylor was coming out but it was actually her mom! How cool! The arena went dark and it was just a sea of screams and light up signs. Then the screams somehow got louder when we could all see her silhouette. She performed for two hours. Countless costume changes. She danced and we did too! She sang and we sang right along. She sang really well too. Like hit crazy notes good. I was very impressed. She talked to us all in between songs letting us into her world. It was awesome. She was carried through the crowd to a closer stage and sang a bunch of songs right in front of us! Oh and then she flew around the arena. No big deal. I took photo and video like a crazy person. I just wanted to be able to look back on that night forever and my memory can't be trusted. I was sitting next to a dad (his 10 year old daughter and her friends were in the row in front of us) and he commented on how much clearer my photos were than his. (It was so hard to get a good shot!) So I mentioned I would send him the photos if he gave me his email. He handed me his business card and I sent them the next day. I hope his daughter enjoys them! When it all ended I was so sad. I couldn't believe it was already over.

Jesenia and I both had to pee something terrible so we waited in a super long bathroom line. Hey Amway, who thought it would be a good idea to have only four stalls in a bathroom?! Afterwards, Jesenia wanted to get a Taylor shirt and we waited yet again in another line. Oh and then we waited in a line of cars trying to get out of the garage. And after that we were only able to go in one direction which was in the direction of the not so safe part of downtown. Not fun! All worth it though.

I apologize in advance for all the screaming and horrible singing (from mostly me and the people sitting next to me, definitely not Taylor) that is in this video below. But I do not give a single care because I had the greatest time ever. Ever!

Dustin: You were a little flat on that song.
Me: Psh, I was flat on EVERY song.