Tag: Mallory

Tayronto Did Not Disappoint

[Toronto] — Mallory, Ally and Cat Niekro, along with Kenna McDermott, daughter of Cat’s friend Kara Rodis, made epic memories attending Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour concert in Toronto on Thursday, Nov. 21.

The group met in Buffalo, arriving from Madison, Wisconsin; Champaign, Illinois; and Charlotte, North Carolina. From there, they rented a car and drove to Toronto, stopping briefly at customs where they were greeted by an intensely grouchy border agent.

“I literally thought all Canadians were friendly,” said Mallory, noting that the agent literally rolled his eyes at them when they pulled up and didn’t immediately hand over passports. 

“Usually it’s the Americans who are mean,” Cat said, recounting that in 2002 the American border agent who was working the lane she used to return from Windsor to Detroit scolded her for getting married in Canada, saying “You should be ashamed of yourself.” 

“Mom, that is so sad.” Ally said. Sadder still has the backstory that Cat had gone to Windsor that night for a tasting for her upcoming wedding. She had not, however, realized that she was supposed to bring a group with her. So while the table next to her was filled with a happy bride-to-be, groom-to-be, and family and friends, she was alone. The chef and wedding planner joined her out of pity. Do not plan a wedding in tax season if you’re marrying a CPA, friends, or you too can experience the crushing awkwardness of eating with people who are being paid to be nice to you. 

Back to 2024. The happy travelers didn’t let the agent’s surly attitude bother them for long though, quickly returning to loud music and arrived at their hotel about 1:30 am.

The Swifties woke Thursday to continued cold rain. 

“What are we going to do today?” Asked everyone repeatedly. 

“Did no one consult my travel itinerary that I sent out two weeks ago?” Cat asked, greeted by a deafening silence.

Upon arriving at the Rogers Centre, the women went directly to the merch line by their section in search of the elusive and exclusive “blue crew.”

“We aren’t going to get it.” 

“We are going to get it.”

“Should we try a different merch line. This one is so long.”

“It’s not that long really.”

“The line is moving so slowly.”

“The line is moving!”

Cat quickly bought a “Shake It Off” Mich Ultra to tolerate the line, and 37 minutes later: success! The women acquired their merch and made their way to their seats. To wait.

Swift arrived on stage almost exactly at 8 pm and the  next 3.5 hours passed in the following way for all 45,000 fans: screaming, singing and “oh my god!”  

“It beat all my expectations. The surprise songs were perfect. It was perfect. Best. Night. Ever,” Mallory said.

“I’m dead,” Kenna said.

“It was everything,” Ally said.

“What did you ask?” Cat said. “I think my ears are broken.”

Sources confirm that the group survived the 27-minute walk back to their hotel despite feet that hurt and more rain. 

Contacted by phone the next day, this reporter asked if there was anything more to say with time to process it all?

“It was amazing. So perfect. Unable to put it into words,” Ally said.

“Obviously I’d like to thank my amazing mom and dad for making this possible. They are the absolute best,” said Mallory. 

What a difference 243 days makes

It was August 30, and I was a hot mess. I had been wildly careening toward this complete and utter breakdown for months as Mallory raced through all the senior moments. All the “lasts” from her senior year flew by in a blur and somehow we were now at the night before we moved her into the dorm at the University of Wisconsin.

I was sobbing—legitimately sobbing, red, splotchy face, big gasps for air in between sobs–on the bed in our hotel room. Ally attempted to make me feel better—patting my shoulder and saying it would be OK. But I was not convinced.

You can see how sad Mallory is at college.

Oh, I knew Mallory would be fine at college, even one that is 883 miles from our house. She’s got a good head on her shoulders, she was excited and not nervous, she’s independent. *I* was not OK. I tried to numb this impending doom all last year. I threw myself into the planning and prep, we got a puppy, we decided to host an exchange student, I even agreed to serve on our HOA (which was really a poor decision), but nothing helped. I was still sobbing in the Hilton Garden Inn.

Fast forward 243 days later and I can’t believe I was such a wreck. What I didn’t realize is that watching her thrive would be the cure-all. There have been football games, basketball games, hockey games, lots of studying, figuring out how to get help from TAs in computer science, navigating buses and airports, FaceTime calls where she helped Ally and Casey with homework, developing a love for cheese curds, and learning the difference between a credit card and a debit card (!).

We are 8 days away from picking her up and starting the long 14-hour drive home, broken up with stops at six colleges for Casey to check out. What will I be like in August 2026 the night before Casey moves into college? As the Magic 8 Ball says, too early can’t say.

But one thing I can say for certain. This coming August, on the night before we move her into her sorority house for sophomore year, I will be sad, sure. I will miss her terribly, yes. But I will be content in knowing she is where she wants to be and then I will look closely around that same hotel lobby for the moms with red, splotchy faces and offer a few words of encouragement.

Peace. XO.