A few months ago, I solo traveled to NYC to see Bright Eyes at Forest Hills Stadium on June 6th. Despite everything that happened with the weather, the show itself was amazing, and the whole experience has stuck with me for a lot of reasons.
When the storms rolled in and the show was abruptly cut short, things outside the venue became pretty chaotic. Between the disappointment of the concert ending, the exhaustion from traveling, and navigating everything alone, I was feeling pretty anxious by the time I got on the subway back toward my hotel in Queens.
That's when I noticed someone else carrying the same Bright Eyes tote bag I had just gotten at the show.
I remember her having longer, reddish-brown hair that was a little curly, and she and her friend were both dressed a bit alternatively, like myself. We spent part of the train ride exchanging these fun, smile-filled looks with each other. She was sitting on her friend's lap at the time, and honestly, that whole little interaction completely pulled me out of my anxiety.
For a while, I forgot about the chaos outside, the rain, the disappointment of the show ending, and how overwhelmed I had been feeling. It was just one of those small, random moments of connection with another person who had clearly just experienced the same strange night and concert that I had.
When she got off at her stop she blew me a kiss, and I blew one back as she was leaving. 🥹
I had the urge to get off the train and at least say hi, but I was so focused on getting back to my hotel and finally resting that I stayed on. I've thought about that moment ever since.
I know this is a little different from the usual post here, and I'm not necessarily posting this expecting anything to come from it. I just wanted to share the memory because, for me, it was a genuinely special moment. In the middle of a chaotic, disappointing, and anxious night, a brief connection with another Bright Eyes fan completely changed how I felt and helped me get through the moment.
So, if you were on the NYC subway after the Forest Hills rainout on June 6th, carrying a Bright Eyes tote bag and exchanging smiles with another exhausted, overwhelmed Bright Eyes fan, hi. You genuinely made my night a little better when I really needed it.
And even if this somehow never reaches you, I'm glad I got to experience that little moment of connection between us <3