These words pain me to say: the Eras Tour is officially over. After two years of this magical tour, it is time to say goodbye. I had the ultimate honor of attending the Eras Tour twice, and the experience was life-changing. The first time I attended was at the beginning of her tour in Arlington, TX during my sophomore year. I was surrounded by my friends during my 16th birthday weekend, and the experience was the epitome of girlhood. I attended my second Eras Tour concert towards the end of her final US tour leg in New Orleans, Louisiana. This time I went with my mother and it was such a bonding experience. Both times might have been with different people but I was reminded of a very important fact. It wasn’t only about when, where, or who I went with, but also why we went. We went to see Taylor Swift and escape into a safe, sparkly, emotion-filled, nostalgic haven that provided so much joy and comfort.
Despite becoming a Swiftie more recently, the community has made me feel as if I have been one my whole life. Taylor’s music has been with me throughout my entire high school career, grounding me and supporting me through numerous adventures. To hear the songs that mean so much to me sung live unlocked a new, healed part of myself. It not only reminded me of past memories, but forged new memories that would be associated with those songs to be remembered forever.
Although it is over, the hope, joy, and sense of community it brought lives on. It lives on through official mementos such as the Eras tour book and movie or merchandise. It lives on through the shared friendship bracelets, photos inside the stadium, and many other items that elicit a memory or association with the tour. It lives on through the people who were changed fundamentally by it, including me.
The happiness, hope, and strength it gave to those who were touched by it lives on as well. In the midst of so much uncertainty, this lengthy, surprise-filled tour continued on. I started the Eras Tour journey as a sophomore and ended it as a senior. I ended the Eras Tour with the realization that I am much stronger now than when it first started. Looking back at every shared friendship bracelet, screamed song lyric, and smile shared in the stadiums, I feel supremely blessed.
As we exit this era and enter into a new one, I have a deep feeling of gratitude for all that this tour has given me. Thank you Taylor for the incredible performance you gave each and every night. The Eras Tour was such a special place and the main reason is because of you. I will forever be holding onto the memories and holding onto you, can’t wait to see what the next era will hold.
