My first live show, at the Ogden in Denver, sealed the deal for me. The incredible energy of the band and their willingness to interact with the audience, not to mention my loving every song including the ones I'd never heard before, made me anxious to hear everything I'd missed and never miss a show again.

Over the next couple of years, I attended 19 shows. I flew for the first time to Cali and saw 2 nights at the du nord. I got a fluke of luck and flew to NYC to see them at the Canal Room. My Samps fan friend and I drove to Albuquerque and Breckenridge and Vail and where ever we could afford to get to and our families wouldn't kill us for, to see our fave band. I joined field staff, befriended people I saw at shows, and through another stroke of luck, became close with a Samples significant other. I became such a fixture at CO shows, I formed a comraderie with the guys and can now call them not just my fave band, but pretty nice friends.

I've managed to aquire every album and a buttload of bootlegs, some from Sean himself, and a wealth of memorabilia and autographs to prove I'm absolutely nuts about these guys. For our 12th anniversary, my hubby and I drove to Jackson WY, to see the band. It was like seeing old friends. The hubby is a very patient man.

The Samples are more than just a soundtrack to my life, they're a favored part of it. I'm completely thrilled to be among people who know what that means. :O)