Warning... Sappy post about how much I love being a father is incoming, you've been warned.

In 1999 I was a chubby, goofy, awkward, unpopular, weird punk rock kid with strange colored hair, few friends, and even less attention from girls... But music was everything. Music gave me the strength to wake up in the morning and face all the people who didn't like me because I was "different."

My favorite band at that time was a pop-punk trio from San Diego, California who (at the time) had not yet become one of the biggest bands in the world. I'm talking about Blink 182. I discovered them in 1997 and instantly they became one of my favorites.

I finally got a chance to see them live in 1999 at the Nutter Center in Dayton. It was an awesome night, Bad Religion and Fenix TX were the openers, it was such an awesome experience.

Fast forward 25 years later, and last night, for his 12th birthday, I got to take my son to see his absolute favorite band... And wouldn't you guess it, his favorite band is Blink 182.

I keep playing bits and pieces of the night in my head, he and I having a big hug and screaming the words to our favorite songs, walking back to the hotel and him saying "dad, this was the absolute best night of my entire life," even getting up this morning and him singing the words to some of the songs while we were getting ready to leave.

Columbus, Ohio gives us all so many things with our beloved Buckeyes, but last night I was gifted an experience with my son at the Schott that I'll never ever forget.

Thank you, Columbus. You're a helluva town.