About The Curly Haired Introvert

Taylor Swift Concert

The first time I saw Taylor in concert I was eight years old. It was a free event that took place in Hemisphere Park, San Antonio TX, for Final Four. I had no idea that from there on out I would be madly in love with this gorgeous woman.

I started out listening to her because my mom listened and liked her first album, but every moment after that was all me. Every album of hers since has been a new adventure. I fell in love with her voice, with her ideas, and with her unwavering resilience.

Her storytelling and her vulnerability have been inspiring me for over a decade now. So, when my sister insinuated I take her to see Camila Cabello, who was opening for Taylor on her current Stadium Tour, I said yes.

I honestly never thought that I would be able to see her again. Leaving my room is not my cup of tea... and I don't even like tea, but this past year has been different. I've started to review the way I've been living my life, and it honestly needs change.

It needs happy memories.

It needs less time being alone.

It needs, I was born under a first quarter moon, and now I need to show just how well I can move forward.

It needs something that will fill my heart and a serious attitude adjustment.

It needs me to be fearless.

So, I bought the tickets a few months in advance from a guy my dad's friend knew and trusted. We were meant to get the tickets either a month before or the exact month of the concert. The tickets didn't come in as promised. Then, the guy said we would get them the week of the concert. No such luck. We did not get the tickets until the day of the concert.

The. Day. Of. The. Concert.

Almost sounds great, right? Dreams were coming true. I would see Taylor. My sister would see Camila.

The concert was in Arlington, TX.

I LIVED SIX HOURS AWAY.

What?

I won't even get into how nerve-wracking that was.

There were people everywhere. We ran inside. We had to stop twenty million times, and when we finally made it into the stadium, we had to turn back around and get our wristbands in order to get onto the floor. All of which was happening in the middle of Camila's performance. My sister threatened to leave me if I didn't hurry up.

Camila was striking and her voice was as gorgeous as ever. I walked into that stadium, ready to find my seat, and my heart pounded with excitement. I know Camila is the love of my sister's life but I was blown away by her.

And Taylor.

She was everything I could have dreamed of, and she was absolutely stunning. Every moment was the best moment, and I'm not sure if that makes sense, but if I could relive any time of my life again it would be this concert.

The song Gorgeous started to play at one point, and my sister turned to me wondering which song it was. I had no time to tell her because at that moment Taylor started to sing and I was singing right along with her. I was ecstatic. This was the song that got me through so many hard emotions. I play it and nothing else matters.

She told the audience she was gonna sing White Horse, and I screamed for the first time that night. I don't get excited the way most people do. I keep my emotions to myself. This whole stadium is screaming and dancing and I feel like I'm not one of them, but I'm in love with White Horse.

I love the old Taylor and I sang my heart out.

I'm so terrified of singing around people, but at a concert, nobody can hear me and I fucking love that. I love that I could be myself, if only for a little bit, at her concert and in her presence. I love that for a short while I could be so utterly happy.

She soars above the crowd in a snake skeleton as she sings Bad Blood. How can you get more badass than that? Then she mashes the song with Should've Said No and there is the answer.

She and Maren Morris sing The Middle, and life is surreal.

She plays New Year's Day on the piano and it's like I'm in a whole new world. Everything is somehow better, and soft, and sparkling, and lovely.

I will never be the same because of this one unforgettable night.

Taylor, you get this a lot but I love you so much. Nothing I say will ever be able to express just how true that is.

You encourage me to live outside my comfort zone. You make me feel like I've been in love. You've taught me that the words people use against me do not verify the person I am. You empower me as a young woman. You remind me of how gorgeous I am. 

I love you for all of it, and with all of my heart, I thank you for the memories.

^ The photos I took were nowhere near as good as the ones I stole from Twitter ^

^ 10/05/18 ^