In 1998 I was 18 years old. On the verge of my 1st and only tattoo. Off and on again with some jerk, and Carla Abbott was my best friend. I loved Less Than Jake. Ska music. Punk. Reggae/ Hip Hop and was obsessed with Sublime. Crap. I loved music, period. I was also invested in making memories, disposable cameras accompanied me everywhere. Blink 182 was playing a small venue in Ft. Lauderdale, a 40 minute drive from home. Dressed in cut off shorts and a ringer tee, the usual flip flops, Carla & I hopped in her mom's forest green minivan taking the trek down. I recall the smell of cigarettes where young teens flanked the entry way, eagerly awaiting my turn. Did I appear as excited as I felt inside? Upon entry, we spotted our guy friends, and scored a couple beers. I barely drank mine. I hated the way beer tasted then and thought holding it made me look older. At showtime we danced, thrashing around like dudes. Ha! I remember Carla's innocent pitchy voice, always followed by a giggle, when she yelled, eventually our voices now coarser from belting every single word. We were like super fans, this was our boy band - this was our new kids on the block. I'd like to say I recall every minute but some details are more vivid than others. For example I don't know if it was Travis or Scott that handed us the drumsticks, or which guy gave me his pic. I do know we were one of the few girls close to the small stage, getting our teenage angst out - singing about break ups, wishing we were that girl Josie. Somehow we convinced our friends to follow the band. Held up in their hotel lobby we blabbed about how great the show was. Yet I can't remember if this was the night we stole golf carts, or those tall people cut outs. I'm not even certain what time I got home. I bet I slept like a baby though. I don't want to 18 again, too many hard life lessons but I don't ever want to ever forget what it was like either. There's something special about who I was then, and the no holds barred way I loved everything. I just think it's great that I have photographs to aid in those random walks down memory lane... #shootfilm #printsnotmegapixels || #90s #film #blink182 #carlasbedroom