The air is hot and muggy like a wet wool blanket. Everywhere you can hear the muted thud of a bass drum or guitar. Flashing lights blink on and off advertising the various bars and bands. Cigarette smoke fills the air almost like someone turned on a fog machine. People pushing past, hitting my shoulder. A sea thick with people all with the same goal--- to have fun. The bright flash of police lights goes back and forth, and bouncers guard the doors like knights guard their castles. 

Welcome to Nashville, Tennessee, the sign reads as I walk past the boot store. My eyes are wide. This is the first time I have seen anything like this. College kids roaming around in groups bigger than I can count. It felt like a melting pot, all different types of people speaking different languages. I walk up to a country bar and the bouncer stops me, 

“Gotta be over 21 to get in kid,” he said.

 I walked away disappointed. It’s not like I want to drink, I just want to listen to music and have fun, I thought. But, I understood that he was just doing his job. I walked around some more, going through allies and side streets, just taking everything in. Until I reached the holy grail of buildings. Kid Rocks Bar and Honky Tonk, the neon sign read. I wandered up to the door to get in. The bouncer looked at me, as to question why I was out on Broadway St. in Nashville on a school night, but after what felt like an eternity he waved me in the door. 

The place was humming with people, moving to the music on every floor. Right away I walked over to the crowded elevator and pushed story 4. When the doors opened the cool air hit my face. It felt refreshing after making my way through all the people, sweaty from dancing. I looked out and the view was breathtaking. Towering skyscrapers, company headquarters, and arenas lined the horizon. The stars were twinkling bright like little diamonds placed by a giant. I heard a commotion from the floors below so I went back down to check it out. It turned out to be no one other than Kid Rock and David Spade at their own bar. People that I have only ever seen on TV, now standing right in front of my face. I push and shoved, using my past experiences in football, to get as close as I could. I managed to snap a picture before they were escorted out into their black Cadillac Escalades.

 The night was still young at 3 am but I needed my sleep. I walked out of Kid Rocks and started my whole new adventure back to the hotel. It hit me later that some people live this life every day never sleeping, always partying. It made me grateful that I live in a little town with my family. As much fun as that life would be I wouldn’t want to change a thing about the life I live right now.