(NKOTB) If dreams came true…

it would be just like this.

By now you would know that i was a huge New Kids on The Block fan when i was 11. When they announced their reunion – it sparked some excitement and emotions i forgot i had. I felt like i was 11 all over again. When looking for tickets i realized they sold Meet and Greet passes. They were pretty expensive so my friend Stephanie and i decided we’d have a yard sale and raise the money to go see the guys. Well – we raised it all short of about $60 so we went ahead and got our VIP passes for the concert in Philly, Nov 5, 2008.

The wait for Nov 5th didn’t come soon enough. We waited and anticipated five months and the day finally arrived. I would get to meet NKOTB, especially Jordan Knight, my favorite guy in the band.

So 4:30pm, Nov 5th came and we got in line to enter the VIP area. It was raining outside and really windy in about 50 degree weather. It was about 45 minutes before we were allowed in. There were probably 150 people doing VIP. The way the meet and greet worked is groups of ten would go in and meet the guys and have a photo taken by the management company. We were not allowed our cell phones, cameras or autographs. Well in order to make sure we got enough time with our favorite guys we’d form our own groups – i found a group where there was only one other Jordan girl, Jenn. We discussed how we would share the time.  By the way, we only get about 5 minutes of time with the guys total and it was in a curtained off area so if it’s not your time yet you don’t get to see them.

So we waited our turn and finally it was our time – we stood behind the curtain and they lifted it and there they were – the New Kids on The Block! All five, Jordan, Joey, Jon, Donnie and Danny! I’ve never met these guys but i feel like i’ve known them for years. So since we had only give 5 minutes total, i made a bee line for Jordan Knight. At first i didn’t see him – his back was against me – but then i looked a little harder and there he was! I mean this is the guy whose posters i had up on every inch of my wall! I walked over quickly to him and called out his name. He turned around and faced me and i just stopped and stared! I mean i froze, staring at him!  He laughed and said ” well, am i going to get a hug?” and the minute he said that i just gave him a big hug. The moments right after that are a blur to me but before i knew it he went off walking with Jenn. (i had thought of a millions things to say to him but lost all words and thought when i saw him). I then turned and saw Joey with arms open ready for a hug and i went in for it! Of course i was dumbfounded again and couldn’t get any words out of my mouth. I wanted to tell him how proud i am of him for bringing his wife and baby on tour with him. After Joey i saw Danny standing there alone and i went over for the Danny hug. He is a little smaller in person – shorter i guess. Actually they all were more skinny and shorter than i imagined them to be. However they were more gorgeous in person also. Crazy!

So then it was picture time and i made sure i was next to Jordan and we got that group shot. (it should be ready in about two weeks if you want to see it. i’ll be sure to post it). Jordan then joked around with me for a minute and we were told it was time to go. I didn’t want to go before getting hugs from Donnie and Jon so i went back and quickly got hugs from them as well. I told Donnie how much i loved him as Lipton in Band of Brothers. He was thankful. Then i got a hug from Jon, whose hug i thought was the most personal one. It felt like a hug from an old friend. So then we were told again we had to leave so i left the curtained off area.

The New Kids came across as very very nice guys. They didn’t have the air that they were better than everyone else. They were very sweet and down to earth and very grateful for their fans. That’s probably a big reason why they’ve made it so far and their reunion has been such a success.

Meeting Jordan Knight and the rest of the New Kids was a dream come true for me. I never thought that reality and fantasy could ever collide, and for those 5 special minutes it did. The experience was incredible and nothing i would ever want to trade for in the world. I would do it all over again if i could, several times.

We also got amazing concert tickets. 5th row from the front in the center of the stage. You’ll see my pictures of how close they were to me. They put an amazing performance. Very entertaining, funny and they made it a point to interact with us fans. I’ve never been a concert like that – where the artists made personal contact with their fans and made people feel special.

People say i’m crazy and obsessive but the New Kids on the Block is not just a band to me. My love for them started in 1988 when i was eleven and now it feels like old friends are back and i’ve just really missed them. The feeling of seeing old friends – hearing their voices – it’s been such an amazing experience. I honestly never thought that twenty years later i’d feel this way for a music group but i do – it’s weird. You’d think i would grow out of it at 31 but to a certain extent the intensity almost seems stronger.

So there you are an account of how my dream came true, my 5* VIP experience with the New Kids on the Block on Nov 5, 2008.

JORDAN KNIGHT, I have so much to say to you but i was at a lost for words when i saw you face to face. You are an amazing vocalist and dancer and i hope some day we’d be able to go out for coffee or a drink.

It was the greatest pleasure getting to meet you in person. Thank you for the experience. You will always be my #1 New Kid.

Here are some pictures and videos. Enjoy!