Emerging from the Covid-19 pandemic was almost as disorienting as heading into it. After a year of following all the rules — masks, social distance, constantly disinfecting — it was not a matter of simply ripping off the band-aid. When I got my first vaccination, I researched how my immunity was projected to grow with each day following the final dose. When I reached peak protection, I certainly didn't immediately tear off the mask and head to a crowded restaurant. In fact, I recall walking around outside and needing to consciously tell myself, "I don't need to be afraid anymore."
One of the biggest mental turning points was my first post-Covid concert. I was just starting to really ramp up on seeing more live music when Covid hit, so I was itching to get back. When our good friends Lisa and Craig offered us tickets to see Green Day at Citi Field, it was perfect. An outdoor venue, smack dab in the middle of summer, felt like the safest and most exhilarating point of re-entry.
The show was nothing short of magical. Billie Joe Armstrong was the perfect guiding light back to reality, imploring fans to revel in the pure joy of being together again. The boundless energy of the performance quickly transformed trepidation into the unrestrained merriment of dancing and shouting lyrics into the sky.
By the end of the night, it wasn't just a concert — it was a celebration. A long, overdue reminder that life, even after everything, could still feel this good. And Green Day re-affirmed, without a doubt, that they are the best live band of our generation.