Wednesday, January 09, 2013

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



4 comments:

Christine said...

That letter could be from me, almost word for word. I just don't have a picture with him (yet.) It might take me til 200 to get that. :-)

The Blonde Mule said...

OMG - this picture!!

Sarah said...

Christine it will happen soon enough! Kim, That was at their Starwood show in 2006. (RIP Starwood) And he was holding my hand!

esther said...

You never told me he was holding your hand! :)

Also - congratulations!

We should talk, soon!