- A wistful, faraway glance
- A raised brow
- Perhaps a grin
- "What I wouldn't give to go back for just one day."
Last night I got to go back.
My younger sister Nikole had gotten tickets to the NKOTB & BSB concert for myself, my sister Meghan and my Mom - for Christmas and our birthdays.
I was actually an "old head" at the height of these two groups' fame - a crotchety 23 years old. It was my youngest sister, Christina, who, for all intents and purposes was NKOTBs number one fan (a term I do not use lightly - I know of NKOTB fans, know of their ferocious intense love. Believe me). But the girl was in-freaking-sane for this group. I gave up my bedroom to her mid-way through college so she could literally cover every inch of wall and ceiling with photographs. There's a photo of her shrine somewhere. If the New Kids created it, she owned it. *for the record, she was a Donnie girl.
And she couldn't come to the concert. She had a decent reason. She lives outside of Sydney, Australia. Christina - a grown up wife and mother - is so currently distraught over missing this concert that she can't even look at the photos or video from last night.
Her heart is still young.
The stadium was sold out - it was huge - and it was filled with 99.9% women. Every woman in the place got to go back, even if it was only for a few hours. They knew every word. They jumped up and down.
They clutched each other's arms and screamed louder than any concert I've ever been to (except, mind you, the NKOTB concert back in '91, in which my mother paid $500 a ticket for us to be on the floor - ten rows from the stage - one ticket was 2nd row - Christina got that one - deservedly so).
Which brings me to my ultimate point. The magic of being young (or being mentally transported back to a magical time in your young life) is rife with possibilities. Dreams. Hopes. Firsts. Being in last night's charged atmosphere hopefully awakened "possibilities" in those who've let them fall silent. Of course I'll never know. But I want to believe the experience went deeper for some.
There's nothing a good old fashioned dose of time travel can't awaken. If you keep your heart open.
For me, the experience - song after song - brought back wonderful memories. Each song flooded my brain with images of my younger sisters (Christina in particular) singing and dancing and squealing over which New Kid we loved and wanted to marry. *for the record, I was a Jordan girl.
Open heart + Dreams = Possibilities
P.S. My poor sister Meghan got strep throat and missed the concert too (booo). A friend of Nikole's jumped in her place last minute *waves at Jen F.*
11 comments:
This is great and you're right. When I re-visit the past, I begin to feel alive and start dreaming of what I can do to get back to it. Very inspiring and sounds like you had a great time.
Too bad the number one fan missed it. :(
Hanging Tough!
Love this-- and so true. I think I need to write out the word Possibilities and stick it to the wall above my computer.
Oh- I was a Donnie girl too.
YESSSSS! Glad you got to experience that (were there younger fans in the audience too?!
And poor Christina! Are they come on tour near her too?
Loved this post! I was a big Backstreet Boys fan many many years ago. I still remember how crazy I was back then. Every inch of my room was covered with BSB posters! (Oh, and TEAM BRIAN btw) lol
Christine: Thank you.
Kelly: I like your idea.
Christina: A few in their early 20s but mostly mid 30s on up : )
And no, they're not heading down under : (
Suzanne: They sounded great last night. But there were only four of them - the tall, dark haired one with the beard wasn't there (not AJ).
as always great post, cried a little, but still great. You captured why they came back for a reunion and what all of the fans have been getting from it. That magic, awe and bliss. love you!
Ha! This is awesome. I remember some of my female friends in high school going nuts for NKOTB. One of my friends and I, on the other hand, wrote short stories in which the members of NKOTB met rather...messy ends. I may have had issues. >.>
Glad you got to relive the moment, good lady! :)
Christina: Glad you were able to read it. Love you.
Simon: I'm sure my husband and probably every heterosexual male on the planet would enjoy your short stories ; )
My blog Amish Stories is having its first ever contest this week. The First prize winner will win 2 tickets to tour the farm where the 1985 move "Witness" staring Harrison Ford and Kelly Mcgillis was made in Strasburg,Pa . This farm is now Amish owned, and the family has given permission for folks to tour their farm. This may be the last time anyone will be able to walk and see the same things that Harrison Ford and the other actors saw during the making of "Witness". The Witness tour should last about 2.5 hours. In addition to the Witness farm tour tickets, 1st prize winner will also receive 2 tickets for Jacobs choice. There will also be a 2nd place prize, which will be 2 tickets for the Amish Homestead. Please go to My blog www.AmishStorys.com for contest details, and more information on the prizes. Richard from the Amish settlement of Lebanon county.
Can't believe I have to follow the Amish blog comment, :), but great post, Kate!
Of course, I'm way too old for NKOTB or BSB. But I get your point! Possibilities is such a lovely word.
Joanne: I know - I saw the same comment on a bunch of other blogs I follow. Glad you stopped by though!
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