The Night I Met
Bob Dylan

Is there a more prolific American artist than Bob Dylan? He's not only a musician, but also a poet. He's the quintessential singer-songwriter, and he's inspired and influenced everyone who's followed in his footsteps. He's so legendary that it's hard to believe he's still going strong. At 85, the guy's still touring and rocking out.

Bob Dylan's music, story, and legacy are such that you'd expect him to have retired long ago. But no! Not only is he still active, but he's still touring all over America and Europe. He hasn't stopped, and, to be fair, do we even want him to?

I don't mean to sound like a boomer and say that music today is trash, but I'll stick with the classics and the legends I grew up with, thank you!

And thank God I grew up when Bob Dylan was still popular. He's a little before my time, but my generation still listened to and loved him just as much as our parents did.

He also makes me feel young every time I listen. I put him on, and I'm instantly back in my old room at my parents' house, hanging out with my buddies as we listen to Bob Dylan. I'm lucky my parents were hippies, and they filled our house with great music.

The nostalgia really kicks in at his concerts, too. I'll never forget going to his show in the spring of 2015. He kicked off his tour at the Borgata in Atlantic City on April 10, and I went with some friends and had a good time.

Also, what an appropriate name for his touring. The so-called Never Ending Tour has been running since 1988, and Dylan is still on the road in 2026. He's even said he doesn't love the name, but the road never seems to end for him, and I hope it never does.

Anyway, that night was memorable because I also met him and got him to sign my poster. I got a brief moment with him as he left the venue after the concert, and I managed to get his autograph despite the quick interaction.

He was likely very tired, but he was still nice enough to say hello to a few fans after the show. I'm so lucky I got to be one of them.

What I can say about meeting him is that he's much more human than you might think. Though he was quiet, he was still nice to me when he signed my poster, and that was after he'd performed for hours in front of thousands of people. I imagine he's much more relaxed when he's not exhausted.

I like to think this autograph is another part of his indelible legacy. It's staying in my collection for good, as a reminder of a night I'll never forget.