Taylor Swift was here.

The last real concert I went to was Dave Matthews Band at the University of Virginia in 2001, unless you count The Wiggles at the Richmond Coliseum in 2005. When Taylor Swift announced her 1989 World Tour, I jumped on the opportunity to end my concert drought by taking my kids to their first memorable show.

As the day approached, I seriously considered selling our 3 tickets and using the proceeds for just about anything other than stuffing myself into an arena with 15,000 other people for 3 hours. I ran the thought by my unimpressed kids, who were confused as to why I would want to sell their Christmas present, the one they’ve been waiting almost 6 months to cash in on. Taylor Swift, here we come!

(1) The Cost. 3 People = $458. Tickets were purchased on the first day at $97 each. Section 206, Row N. With taxes and fees, 3 tickets were about $348. Parking $10. Dinner at 7 Street Market $25. 2 Souvenir T-Shirts $70 (Why?) 1 Bottle of Water $5. Next time, I plan to splurge on closer seats. Taylor Swift looked very small from this section.

(2) The Pre Show Videos. 2 huge screens broadcast interviews with Swift, fan You Tube videos, behind the scenes looks at video shoots and album production. All these clips showcased Swift’s talent and her depth in persona but also the breadth of her legion of fans. From 3 year olds singing “Bad Blood” to college fraternities lip synching “Shake it Off”, she appeals to them all. My young kids had no idea that “college looked like that.”

(3) The Opening Act. I had only heard one Vance Joy song heading into this concert but enjoyed each of the songs he performed. He was humble and vulnerable; grateful to be Swift’s chosen one and winning the audience over with just an acoustic guitar and microphone.

(4) The 80’s Buildup. It’s no secret that Swift’s 1989 album is a love song to the decade she was born into. The pre-show videos were a prelude to her discovery of the culture of this era. Swift noted she would love to bring back leotards and leg warmers and has no problem with people walking around like they just walked out of Jazzercise The sound system blared songs by Tiffany and the Fine Young Cannibals and all the moms identified with this music while the little ones rolled eyes and wondered why the moms were dancing their mom jeans off.

(5) The Show. Swift opened the show with an emphatic rendition of “Welcome to New York,” a tribute to her new identity and ode to her new home. From there, she worked through her entire multi-platinum 1989 album, adding only an intermittent handful of previous hits, which were also performed with an 80’s influence. It may be inaccurate to say Swift has shed her previous country music persona, but this show was unmistakably all pop and no country. It was produced like a 2 hour Super Bowl halftime show-with no football. The audience was loud and energetic, with tattooed trucker hat wearing men singing alongside tutu wearing little girls.

(6) The Words. In typical Swift style, she injected moments of inspiration that centered on the importance of individuality, acceptance, and perseverance. She referenced the scrutiny around her personal life and reminded the audience, which I would estimate were 80% female, that mistakes are worth making and learning from. She provided her commentary on the importance of positive friendships by having captivating video confessions throughout the show by some of her famous friends, including Lena Dunham, Selena Gomez, Karlie Kloss, the sisters of Haim, Cara Delevingne, and Jaime King. These ladies humorously addressed their epic friendship and the importance of having good girlfriends.

(7) Taylor Swift really likes cats. Lena Dunham is surprised stray cats don’t follow Swift home because Swift is the “Patron Saint of Cats.” Cara Delevingne calls Swift’s house the cat headquarters. Taylor Swift and Katie Levans are related by cat.

From start to finish, getting to and from the show took roughly 6 ½ hours. With kids, you have to leave plenty of time to get there. Undoubtedly, if you don’t, there’ll be circumstances like stray puppies that need help, allergic reactions, and prolonged bathroom breaks to make you late. After dinner and impulse T shirt purchases, we got to our seats 45 minutes before the 7:30 start time. Vance Joy performed for 30 minutes and Taylor Swift came on at 8:30 with a 2 hour set, punctuated by the ever catchy “Shake it Off”. The drive home was dramatically quiet due to nodding off in the backseat.

I’m glad I didn’t sell these tickets for a profit. Taylor Swift’s 1989 World Tour was the perfect first major concert for my kids and I was grateful to share the experience with them. It was logistically easier than I expected and the entire show’s message of positivity is contagious and very welcomed. It was nice to meet you, Taylor Swift.