We the Kings

Last night I got to go see one of my current favorite bands in concert. About 2 years ago my good friend Lia introduced me to a vlogger named Charles Trippy. He had just experienced a random seizure and soon found out he had a brain tumor. Since then Charles has undergone two brain surgeries and the tumor was cancerous. Over two years I have watched the vlogs of Charles and his wife Allie. They have overcome so much together and shown a tremendous example of what marriage truly is. Their love and positivity has been so encouraging to watch! I've cried time and again as they've had some struggles, but I've also cried with their triumphs. Needless to say, Charles in the bass player in We the Kings! A band that I had listened to from time to time prior to watching the vlogs.

(Fun story; Warped Tour 08 or 09, I can't remember, I physically ran into the lead singer Travis. Neither of us were paying attention to where we were going and bumped into each other. We apologized and moved on and as I continued walking girls started running up to him for pictures and autographs. I later found out who he was.)

I've since become addicted to CTFxC and getting to know Charles and Allie. A couple of months ago We The Kings released a new album and I listen to it on repeat! It's so good! The song, "Just Keep Breathing" is inspirational to me and I want to get those words tatood on me somewhere after I complete my first 5K with Tina. 

When I learned the band was coming to DC I had to get tickets. I bought them for my sister for her birthday and Tina, Ashley, Lia, Mollie, and I all traveled to the show yesterday. 

The show was amazing, we saw Charles walking down the street and the girls jumped out of the car to meet him. We later discovered a meet and greet with the entire band was available after the show! It was no question that we were going! 

I'm not an emotional person, but when the band came out and we waited to see them I got choked up. Here I know so much about these men and their lives and I have been inspired by them; what do you say to someone like that in a few seconds? And there was Charles! I watch him DAILY for 2 years straight. I've cried with him, laughed with him; B even sings the end song on the vlog. In fact, when B was first born I would turn on the vlogs and he would stop crying. K was convinced it was because I watched them so much that B heard them in womb. So Charles and Allie's voices had become comforting to him. Some people play Bach for their babies in womb, I watched CTFxC. And now to see Charles in person, I was overwhelmed! I wanted to tell him about B and how much B enjoys his videos. About how my husband and I watch the videos at night before bed. About how K stayed home with B so I could go to this concert. But I walked up to him and froze. Completely froze. I stood there smiling like an idiot until he asked me for a fist pump and even then I barely registered anything happening. It was so surreal to be meeting him that my brain literally just shut down. 

Still, what an experience! Every member of that band is so awesome and I enjoy each and every one of them. Meeting them was such a privilege! Let alone hugging them and telling them thank you! I'm so grateful for that experience. For the band for sticking it out after a show to meet fans. I'm sure that's exhausting! And for Charles, who didn't feel well and still stayed to play and meet! I was so excited and thrilled to have seen them perform let alone meet them. K is very jealous! I told him he will have to go see them on Warped Tour! Maybe then I won't freeze when I see them and I can make complete sentences besides "hi" and "thank you".

I must admit, driving to the show, standing in line for an hour, waiting for 3 hours and 2 opening bands before seeing them was very exhausting. How did I do that all the time as a teenager? I'm getting too old! It was all worth it.

Here's me and the boys (Travis, Me, Coley, Hunter, Charles, and Danny) and me and my girls! See my goofy smile? I was way too excited lol!