I remember the happiest day of my life was the day I got to see Parkway Drive in concert for the first time and getting to meet them right afterwards, I’ll never forget the pure joy that I felt throughout that day. It was July 11th, 2014 in Camden, New Jersey; the Susquehanna Bank center, I was on my way with my two best friends: Brooke & Katie. The concert would be going on all day, it was a part of Warped Tour. I enjoyed and loved many of the bands playing that day but the biggest reason I was there was for Parkway Drive so you can imagine how I rushed straight to their tent when I found out they were going to be doing a meet and greet right after their performance. When I got there the man working the tent told me that in order to receive the playing card (they were giving out playing cards for access to meet the band) I had to do the chicken dance. Considering I’m the worst dance I’ve ever met, this would be embarrassing in front of so many people but I knew it would be worth so I got out there and chicken danced my little butt off. It didn’t matter how many people made fun of me because later that day I would get to meet my heroes, would they?
Luckily the band I was seeing before Parkway Drive was right next door to their stage so I got to go over early and make my way to front. I was determined to stay there and I did, I didn’t let anyone sway me from my spot no matter how small I am. As soon as Winston (the vocalist) walked on stage I felt myself start to cry, I started to scream and whoop with all the other people around me. I was about to see the band I had loved more than any other for four years live for the very first time! I was so excited, so filled with joy that honestly no other memory could compare. I knew every word to every song they played, they played a total of about 7 or 8 songs that day because of the time limit. Luckily for me they played two of my absolute favorite songs by them, Home is for the Heartless and Carrion. I was sweating more then I remember ever sweating in my life; it was almost a hundred degrees that day with not a cloud in the sky and I was body to body with over a hundred other people. I nearly passed out at the end and came close to a heat stroke and even though that’s terrifying, I didn’t care. It was all worth it.
When the set was finished I was only walking away because of sheer will to meet the band; I was exhausted and dehydrated but again it didn’t matter to me. I was one of the first people in line thanks to my friends having saved me a good spot. I remember downing about two or three bottles in row of water and just trying to calm my breathing but I was so pumped with adrenalin from the concert before and coming face to face with the fact that I was really about to me them. You can imagine the feeling, one of your dreams is literally happening; its coming true! By the time it was my turn I had started crying and I could barely get my words out coherently. I’ll never forget the look that Winston gave me as he saw my tears, he gave me a hug and asked if I was okay. I told him that I had never been happier in my life and he smiled, gave me another hug, and then my friend took our picture together. After walking over to meet the rest of the band and getting their signatures, I was just crying and crying. It really happened and I was so nervous I’d wake up and it would be a dream but it wasn’t, it really happened.
I’d like to believe that our meeting made some kind of impact on him that he’d remember, even if it was just for that day. I know it made a huge impact on me, more than anything else ever has.