We don't usually post messages from houseguests. It feels too much like marketing. But a few of them have stuck with us, and we asked the senders if we could share them here so you can get the same reminder we got. Every name is used with permission.
From Maria, 68, Fort Myers: 'My husband passed last February. I almost didn't come. My daughter made me. I was standing at the back of the dance floor with the headphones on and a song came on that he used to hum around the kitchen. I looked up and there was a stranger next to me and she just started crying with me. We didn't say a word. That was worth more than I can tell you.'
From Devin, 24, Naples: 'I brought my non-verbal brother. He's autistic and loves music but clubs have always been too much for him. At one point during the set he took off the headset, handed it to me, and did the thing he does when he's happy where he shakes his hands by his face. He has never done that at a concert before. Never. I cannot thank you enough.'
From Wendy and Rob, Dallas: 'We drove seven hours to see some friends in Florida and they dragged us to your sunset. We're in our 50s. We thought we were going to feel ridiculous. We haven't danced in public in probably a decade. Rob got teary during what I think was a Louie Vega song. We are going to be Houseguests forever.'
From an anonymous note left on our van: 'I have had the worst year of my life. Thank you for giving me a good hour of it.'
From Jamie, 19, FGCU: 'My friends and I had never been to a silent disco before. We were ready to make fun of it. Halfway through the set I looked over and one of my best friends was crying-laughing and dancing with a stranger in their 60s who was dressed like a fisherman. I don't know what you put in those headphones but please keep doing it.'
We keep every one of these. Tony has a folder on his phone. I have a folder in my email. When it's 4 pm on a Thursday and we're loading the van and we're exhausted and we'd rather go home, one of us will send the other a screenshot from the folder. That's what keeps us on the road. Houseguests, if you're reading this: you are the reason. Every letter gets read. Every letter gets saved. And every letter rebuilds us a little bit.