So many of my memories growing up involve three people I've never even met.

In November of 2000 

I saw my very first Chicks show. 

That was ten years ago people. 

TEN YEARS. 

I don't even remember 

what I was like then, 

but I do remember that

on that night

they sang Cold Day In July, 

Emily played her dobro solo, 

it snowed inside America West Arena, and 

that was it for me. 

I will never love another band 

as much as I love them. 

To this day, 

whenever I hear any one of their songs, 

I am instantly happy

and am taken back for a small time 

to being 15. 

Fifteen and staring up at them

in awe

for two hours

thinking that they were the coolest 

most talented girls 

in the entire world. 

And if they could do that,

then I could do anything. 

And then 2003 happened.

And they showed me

and the world

that they were still the coolest

and the most talented

but also

that they were total badasses

with backbones

and not just pretty faces

who stood up for what

they believed in

even when it wasn't cool

to do so.

And I loved them more

and I loved them differently.

Someday I will meet them

and I will hug them

and I will simply say

thank you.