Dear Dave Matthews

(This post goes out to my dad who so lovingly reminded me at 6:33 AM, before my alarm clock went off this morning, that it was none other than Dave Matthews' Birthday. My dad, who dropped me off and picked my friend and I up from my first Dave Matthews Band concert at the Charleston Civic Center on December 8, 1996. My dad who has always encouraged and supported me in whatever I choose to do.)

Dear Dave Matthews,

If this were 10 years ago I would have known it was your birthday days before. I would have known because I would have had the Dave Matthews Band Calendar so lovingly hung in my dorm room. I probably could have also told you any other day of the year when your birthday was as well. But things have changed. It's not that I love you any less, it's just that there are so many other things I have to fill my brain with.

Thank you.
Thank you for helping me to find a love of music and to explore different genres.
Thank you for helping me to explore a major (music business) that I didn't really know existed.
Thank you for all the friends I have made. Serious life long friends. Friends all over the US and even Europe.
Thank you for helping me to find my first love, music.

I know I don't listen to your music as much as I used to, but that doesn't mean I love you any less. Like all relationships there are ebbs and flows. This isn't a bad thing, I know you will always be there. And you should know I will always be there too.

This past December, December 10, 2012 to be exact, we celebrated 100 shows together. 100. 16 years ago I didn't know people went to that many shows. In the grand scheme of things, among the people I know, 100 shows is nothing. But when you are 14 and have only been to a handful of shows, 100 shows seems like something monumental. At some point things changed. I started going to shows based on friends I loved and wanted to see, cities I wanted to visit, and venues I wanted to go to. I stopped worrying so much about the number or where my seats were. I wanted to enjoy the entire experience and spend it with people I loved. Things changed, but they still worked.

"Do what you will always
Walk where you like, your steps
Do as you please, I'll back you up"

I can only imagine what the next 16 years will be like. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You've influenced me more than you know.

Love,
Sarah