a year? really?

June 19th, 2007, was a disgustingly hot day. I know this because on that day, I was sitting in the sun on the sidewalk outside The Lawn at White River State Park in Indianapolis, waiting to see The Fray with Mae and OK Go. Amanda, my parents, and my aunt were there as well. It was also the day that the newest Lifehouse album came out. It was also the day that, as we roasted slowly in line for the show, we heard my mother say "Hey... see those guys over there? They look like they're in a band." As it turns out, she was right. They approached everyone in line with an iPod, introduced themselves as a band from Wisconsin passing through town, and asked people to listen to the music. We liked it, we bought CDs, we thought they were darling, and we took a picture. Three days later, Amanda and I saw them play in a YMCA to a crowd of about 7, and took them to Steak 'n' Shake. We went home that thinking they were absolutely wonderful, but didn't think anything like that would happen again, or if we'd ever see them again. Thankfully, we were wrong. The rest, you might say, is History.

Yep. A year ago today, we met We The Living.

[Hot. Sweaty. Awesome.]

There's so much I could say... so much.
But I prefer to keep it short and sweet this time.
Sometimes, a series of events combine to make things happen.
You meet people by chance, and you wonder where it will go.
You realize a year later that you can't imagine life without them.
You see them change and grow and succeed.
You try to help them out along the way.
You attempt to sort through the transition from fan to friend.
You meet other friends along the way who you adore.
You learn from them, and hope that they've learned something from you.
And you look back and marvel at how unbelievably different your life would be if two guys from some band hadn't stopped and said "Hi... would you like to listen to our music?"

Everything happens for a reason.
That day was no exception.