Since I was 16, Adam Duritz has been my favorite writer. I'm 31 now so that's almost half of my life. The Crows are amazing, and their music cannot even be placed into the same category as modern music, pop or other. It just cannot. The Counting Crows and their music are legendary. They are music legends, and their music will live on forever, much like the Foo Fighters, the Beatles, Queen, Tom Petty, and so many more incredible legends. Unfortunately, music is just not the same these days.  I can honestly say I have had the same two favorite bands for most of my life. When I was 13, I saw Dave Grohl playing drums on Nirvana's MTV Unplugged, and I decided to become a drummer. Needless to say, I learned to play every song on every Nirvana album. With the inception of the Foos, I learned everything they offered as well. So I always say that Dave Grohl taught me how to play drums because in a very real way, he did. I first encountered my other favorite band, the Crows, at the age of 16 when a boyfriend gave me a copy of August and Everything After. It soon became my favorite album, and I credit that very album for helping me cope with the tumultuous break-up with that same boyfriend months later. I will always be grateful to Sam for "introducing" me to the Counting Crows. I usually judge the impact a person has had on my life by the music they've introduced me to. Corey introduced me to Muse. Sam gave me Counting Crows. Kevin opened my world up to the greatest band of all time, the Beatles, and two of the most incredible musicians in the world, Tom Petty and Butch Walker.  So while I believe that the Beatles were and are the greatest band in history, my favorite bands and musicians are the Crows, Foo Fighters, Butch Walker, and Tom Petty. Now that you know my musical history and preferences, I'll get back to the Crows.  I was fortunate enough to meet them a few weeks ago in New Orleans.  The show was incredible, and the experience was one of the best I've ever had. I will cherish that night forever.  I learned a few things also.  EVERY member of that band is incredibly talented. They can sing; they can play; they are humorous; they are just awesome people. Still, after watching part of their sound check, I was incredibly nervous to talk to Adam (and I feel like I made a complete ass out of myself, but I got to meet him so I don't care). He is the most humble person I have ever met. He refused to take sole credit for anything, and I'm sure there is a lot of merit to that because he is not THE Counting Crows like a lot of people think. He is a MEMBER of the Counting Crows - not the entire band. However, I do feel like I did not get to express to him the depth of his impact on my life as well as the depth of my admiration for him, but I do not think he wanted to hear it or would have accepted it had I been able to. I know he may never see this, but I need someone to know so I'm telling anyone who will read this (hopefully at least one person will, haha). Adam, you are my favorite writer of all time. Here are a few reasons why. I have struggled with bipolar disorder for over a decade. Bipolar disorder does not define me, but it does shape my views, thoughts, and reactions to many situations and relationships. I am not easy to be in a relationship with, especially a romantic one.  People have a hard time understanding me and the way I think and the things I do. Sometimes, I feel like NO ONE truly knows me. That is hard to live with especially when I become engulfed in my depression and struggle to keep my head above water. Somehow, I have managed to survive for 31 long years, and that is probably due to two things a.) my daughter, Madeline and b.) the belief that Adam understands me and what I go through even though he does not know me at all. I can relate closely to almost every Counting Crows song. It feels like Adam says exactly what I need to hear to make it through the day in exactly the way I would say it myself, and he knows the exact words I need to be saying to other people in my life when I have never been able to find those words before. And even if he doesn't write the songs that he introduces or puts on albums (like Underwater Sunshine), he picks songs that I need to hear and use. For example, "Start Again" by Teenage Fanclub, when I heard that, I said those exact words to three of the most important people in my life. Because for so long, those were the words I had been searching for. No Adam did not write "Start Again," but that song was put on that album for a reason. My favorite song that he's written is "Goodnight L.A." I tried to tell him how deeply that song affects me and how that is exactly how I have felt in EVERY relationship my entire life, but he was so humble that he would not accept my praise or gratitude even though it specifically says "Lyrics and Music by Adam F. Duritz" in the CD's booklet. As much as I needed him to hear how much he's helped me through the most trying times of my life, his dismissal of my praise makes me admire him more. He's an amazing human being, and sometimes I feel he's the only person that truly knows me without even knowing me. I met Adam Duritz. I talked to him. I imparted some wisdom about Ringo Starr on him which I hope he found informative and amusing. I will always be grateful to him and the Counting Crows for everything they have done for me. I met my hero. He was incredibly human and normal and down to earth, and I think he was a little intimidated by my excitement. But that's okay. He is human. A human that does great things. A person that I will love and remember until the day I die. He has touched my life and imparted so much wisdom without even knowing it. Adam, I know you are only human, but you are a human that has changed my life. Thank you.