The Best of What's Around

Dave Matthews Band. If you don't know of my slight obsession with them, then you don't know me. At all. Luckily, I have found a significant other who shares this same, and sometimes unhealthy, obsession. We are both extreme dorks when it comes to our knowledge of the band and their music, but we always say that's how we know we're perfect for each other. Because without DMB, we would not be where we are today. You might think that's a bit dramatic and exaggerated, but it is the absolute truth. Here is the whole story. 

Almost 4 years ago to the day, I met Nick at a DMB concert in Noblesville, IN (Deer Creek) through a mutual friend, Jenna. I met Jenna through my friend Megan, who is from Naples but went to IU for college. Got it? When I met Jenna during spring break of 2009 in Naples, we quickly learned that we both loved Dave Matthews Band. We talked about how fun it would be for me to come up there this summer and go to the concerts with her and all her friends. She said that they camp the whole weekend and she had been going for years. It was one of those great ideas that you talk and talk about but never really end up happening. Not this time. When it involves DMB, I will do about anything I can to make it happen! As fate would have it, DMB was playing at Deer Creek during the same time my family scheduled our yearly summer vacation up to Louisville. I had planned on going to the Saturday night concert all along with my sister and some of her friends. But, me being me, I really wanted to go to the Friday night show too. I had kept in touch with Jenna over the past few months and we were both dead set on getting me up there. Through another crazy turn of events, I found a ride up to Noblesville on that Friday through my friend from high school, Alex. Her boyfriend (now husband, Josh) was driving all the way from Alabama to go to the concerts too, and offered to pick me up in Louisville along the way. I know, I am a TOTAL crazy person and you are probably super confused by all of these people and how Nick ties into it. Wait for it. 

As Josh and I made our way from Louisville to the north side of Indianapolis, I was texting with Jenna keeping her up to date on my whereabouts. As we were getting closer, Josh was becoming increasingly more concerned about dropping me off curbside in a camping lot to hang out with people who I had never even met before, other than Jenna. My 19 year old self kept telling him, "it's totally fine!!" but looking back, I can now see how ridiculous I probably sounded. Anyway. As we were approaching the venue, I needed some more detailed directions from Jenna on where exactly she was and where I needed to be dropped off. With that, she told me that she wasn't really good with directions but she would give my number to a friend of hers who would guide me along. That friend of hers...was Nick. He does a very good job at retelling this part of the story because as you can imagine he wasn't too pumped about having to text directions to "a random girl from Florida." We pulled into the camp lots and I start walking around looking for a stranger, literally. Nick said he would meet me near the entrance but neither of us knew of the other person's existence until two hours prior so neither of us knew what to expect. We found each other fairly easily and he walked me back to the campsite with everyone else. I had such a fun weekend and from then on, texted Nick back and forth non stop. It would end up being almost a whole year before we "officially" started dating, but I'd say it was well worth the wait :)

Since then, DMB has played such a big part in our relationship. We consider our first date and anniversary to be June 15th, 2010, when we saw a concert at Riverbend, in Cincinnati, together. Then in September of that year, we saw them play at Wrigley Field in Chicago and that was where he told me he loved me for the first time (don't worry, I said it back). So needless to say, big events have taken place in our lives thanks to DMB! So, what better way to top off the end of our move-in week? To go see a DMB concert, of course!

We ventured back to Cincinnati for the concert last Friday night. This venue holds an especially special place in my heart because it was where I saw DMB for the very first time back in 2005. That, in addition to it being a special venue for Nick and me, was enough to get me so excited! Not to mention, it was my 30th DMB concert and sadly will be the only show I make it to this summer. So I was ready to live it up! It was a much needed break from moving and we had a blast! We went with two of Nick's friends, Jace and Trevor, and despite some Cincy traffic jams (got more cars than a beach got sand) we made it there safe and sound. We had lawn seats, which I always love. I've been front row several times and have had some great pavilion seats, but I will always love the lawn too! You have more dancing room :)

Here are some pictures down DMB memory lane and of the concert last week!

Jace, Nick, and me the day I met them in Deer Creek back in July 2009!

Jace, Nick, and me 4 years later!

The show where we "officially" started dating. Riverbend, June 2010.

Wrigley Field, 2010. One of my favorite concert pictures :)

All smiles on our way to Cincy! Except for Nick, who refuses to smile when I ask him too. 

Classy boyfriend.

Typical looks. I look annoyed and Nick is ignoring me. 

One of my new favorite pictures of us. The perfect way to start off my new life in Indiana!

So, that's our story. All thanks to DMB!

Until next time :)