NIN Memories

As everyone knows I've been a fan of Nine Inch Nails since The Downward Spiral was released in 1994. Last night was NIN's last show in Los Angeles at the Wiltern. (I would have liked to have been there, but it just wasn't in the cards.) Many fans shared their memories late last night as the show played. I wasn't up that late, and thankfully so because the setlist was over four hours long! So this morning I took some time to reflect on my favorite memories that Trent has left me with (in no particular oder):

• 2009: Receiving candid tweets from Trent at all hours of the day on my iPhone. (I'm glad I bought a cell phone this year.) It was good to hear those random thoughts. It's something I've always wanted to be a part of, and it was even better that he had finally fallen in love and shared it.
• The 90's: Subscribing to SPIN magazine in the 90's just to collect TR interviews. I had quite the SPIN collection for years.
• June 9, 2009: Asking TR if he received my nautilus to which he responded, "Oh, yes I did. Thank you." And he hugged me. The way a maelstrom struck as NIN played The Day the World Went Away during soundcheck. Being able to watch TR from behind the stage and feel the energy of the crowd--everyone singing Sin was incredibly powerful.
• Labor Day 2008: Driving 8 hours to Kentucky for my first NIN show. Hearing The Great Destroyer live with an amazing light show.
• 1994: Blasting Broken on my parent's stereo while they weren't home.  Something I Can Never Has as I slept on a calm, breezy night with open windows. Explaning to mom that "Nine Inch Nails" wasn't a euphemism.
• 2007: Not fully appreciating The Fragile (album) until 8 years after its release. It was just my time.
• 1996: Buying Quake just because TR did the soundtrack, and realizing that it was a great game.
• 1995: Being told by some punk at school that I wasn't a "true fan" and subsequently besting him at NIN knowledge.
• Early 2009: Receiving "the gift" of HD footage and soundboard recordings from three Lights in the Sky shows and reliving that tour every day on my commute to and from work.

 Trent, you said you'd make more music, and by all means please do. You've been with us for 20 years, and I hope you'll make music for another 20 or more. Please take the time to enjoy the life you're about to build, too. My advice? Your engagement proves you're already working on it: The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return. Thank you, Michael Trent Reznor.