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17 Years = Dreams come True
August 9, 2011 will be a day I will always remember. It was the day I could finally check an item off my bucket list that had been sitting there for 17 years. Hard to believe isn't it? That I had something on there that took all that time to complete. It wasn't for lack of trying on my part, but sometimes tasks are meant to be completed at a certain time and that was the case with this one. I am sure you are all curious as to what it is, well let me give you a little story.
I grew up in the time of boy bands, when I was a little girl I was a huge New Kids On The Block fan. I had all the cassettes, posters, EVERYTHING. I guess sometimes things never leave you and in my case that was a fact. Along came the Backstreet Boys, and of course when I heard their first song 'I'll Never Break Your Heart' (remember that video? With the sweaters and the ski slope), that was when a new love came into life. Of course over time it grew and blossomed as I did the same. I had all the CDS (who I am kidding I still buy everything), I had the posters and tried to get everything I could in my small town. Not only did I find a new music love but I also found a new friend to share everything with when it came to the Backstreet Boys, and since that moment we have become best friends. Have been best friends for the entire 17 years. Okay, so now you know about where the love started.
Growing up where I did I never had the option to be able to see them in concert, they never came close enough. So, in 2001 when they were on tour for Black and Blue I had purchased tickets for their summer show in Toronto. I was beyond excited. I was finally going to get my dream. However, at that time AJ Mclean was entering rehab and the tour got postponed, granted I was devastated but at the same time glad that he was getting help. Moving forward the show was in September so I booked plane tickets, had a friend ready to go with me and again the excitement started. There are times in life when things just stand still and puts everything into perspective, that was what happened on September 11. My heart was broken (but not because I couldn't see the show) and I moved forward and realized that waiting was for the best.
In 2005, for the Never Gone tour I was finally able to see them in concert (the last time they were a five person group). I was glad that I had my best friend beside me, it was her first show too, and we shared something very special together. We cried a couple times at the reality of what was happening after such a long wait. It was that year that I was also able to meet four members of the band, Howie Dorough (the day before that show I was able to help with his Lupus foundation), Kevin Richardson, Brian Littrell and AJ Mclean. Wondering why Nick Carter isn't on that list? Well so am I, it seemed that whole time he dodged me and I wasn't able to catch anything but a glimpse of his back. I tried again a few times after that to meet him but to no avail.
Bring it all the way forward to 2011. I think most of all I need to say is NKOTBSB. A super group of New Kids On The Block and Backstreet Boys. I couldn't wait to be able to see them on tour, it would be like I was a 12-year-old all over again (and well in fact I felt like one at the show). I was able to see the Toronto show and then my boyfriend surprised me with tickets to the Hamilton show. I was ecstatic to say the least. Now, I was never really that girl that hung around the buses or anything like that but that day for some reason I decided to do that. I am glad I did because to my surprise Howie actually remembered me. That made my day but I was still on a mission that day to meet the elusive Nick Carter. After the show we went back outside and hung out by the buses. I actually took a seat on the curb right in front of the first bus, which was between the buses and the backdoor entrance. As I sat I heard a bunch of girls screaming, leaning back I saw that Nick had left his bus. I slowly moved to stand up waving at him as he got closet to get his attention and once again he dodged me, he lifted his hand, winked at me and walked away again. I was like 'not again Carter', and shook my fist at his back.
Now, lets skip forward a few days. I set my alarm for 5am (crazy I know) and got up and headed to downtown Toronto. Why you might ask? Well Nick Carter was releasing his second solo album here in Canada that day and was doing a signing at a local HMV store. I was worried at some part that I was actually going to be late with my 7am arrival and I would miss one of the limited 300 wristbands they were giving out. To my luck (and suprise) I was in the first fifty people. I sat on the sidewalk, in the rain and waited for three hours for the store to open like the dedicated (or crazy) fan that I am. Of course during this wait it gave me a chance to talk to some other fans that were sitting around and make some new friends.
Once I had the Universal Music purple wristband secured on my wrist, and the CD in my purse I headed home for a couple hours. It wasn't long before I was back downtown to meet up with my new friend for Nick's apperance on Much Music's show New Music Live. It was there that I met a couple more new friends and we headed inside to await the arrival of Nick. Well to say his appearance was a disappointment would be putting it mildly (no offence intended towards Patrick Stump, who was also there). I think 99% of the audience that day was there to see Nick and his brief ten minute appearance wasn’t really any sort of satisfying in the least. After having to wait around for the show to end at 6pm, which ironically was the same time that the signing began, the four of us together hightailed it down Queen Street towards the HMV to park ourselves at what was the end of the line.
Now, at this point I was getting nervous. I can’t explain to you why because I don’t even know. Once I was inside the store and getting closer to the stairs which would lead up to where he was signing autographs for some reason I wasn’t so nervous anymore. This was the moment I had been waiting forever for and I wasn’t going to let me being nervous ruin that. Now, as I approached the table after security made sure that I only had his new album in my hand, I graciously smiled at him and gave him my name. It was then that I mentioned that this exact moment was 17 years in the making. He sort of looked at me with that ‘really’ look and I just smiled and said really. After signing my CD he leaned over and I got myself a hug with a ‘thank you baby’ whispered in my ear. Sweet touch don’t you think?
After all was said and done and we were back outside talking about our experience I realized that oe of my missions for life was finally complete. I had actually met all five Backstreet Boys. Of course first thing I wanted to do was get home and pull out my piece of paper with my bucket list on it and scratch it off. But it made me realize something truly significant, it doesn’t matter how long you have to wait for something if you have patience and are motivated enough to wait you will always be able to grasp what you want.
I guess the whole lesson in this is the fact that dreams do come true. NEVER STOP DREAMING!
”Cause we ain't gonna live forever, we can't stop the hands of time. As long as we are here together nothing can go wrong tonight” – Nick Carter ‘Love Can’t Wait’
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I grew up in the time of boy bands, when I was a little girl I was a huge New Kids On The Block fan. I had all the cassettes, posters, EVERYTHING. I guess sometimes things never leave you and in my case that was a fact. Along came the Backstreet Boys, and of course when I heard their first song 'I'll Never Break Your Heart' (remember that video? With the sweaters and the ski slope), that was when a new love came into life. Of course over time it grew and blossomed as I did the same. I had all the CDS (who I am kidding I still buy everything), I had the posters and tried to get everything I could in my small town. Not only did I find a new music love but I also found a new friend to share everything with when it came to the Backstreet Boys, and since that moment we have become best friends. Have been best friends for the entire 17 years. Okay, so now you know about where the love started.
Growing up where I did I never had the option to be able to see them in concert, they never came close enough. So, in 2001 when they were on tour for Black and Blue I had purchased tickets for their summer show in Toronto. I was beyond excited. I was finally going to get my dream. However, at that time AJ Mclean was entering rehab and the tour got postponed, granted I was devastated but at the same time glad that he was getting help. Moving forward the show was in September so I booked plane tickets, had a friend ready to go with me and again the excitement started. There are times in life when things just stand still and puts everything into perspective, that was what happened on September 11. My heart was broken (but not because I couldn't see the show) and I moved forward and realized that waiting was for the best.
In 2005, for the Never Gone tour I was finally able to see them in concert (the last time they were a five person group). I was glad that I had my best friend beside me, it was her first show too, and we shared something very special together. We cried a couple times at the reality of what was happening after such a long wait. It was that year that I was also able to meet four members of the band, Howie Dorough (the day before that show I was able to help with his Lupus foundation), Kevin Richardson, Brian Littrell and AJ Mclean. Wondering why Nick Carter isn't on that list? Well so am I, it seemed that whole time he dodged me and I wasn't able to catch anything but a glimpse of his back. I tried again a few times after that to meet him but to no avail.
Bring it all the way forward to 2011. I think most of all I need to say is NKOTBSB. A super group of New Kids On The Block and Backstreet Boys. I couldn't wait to be able to see them on tour, it would be like I was a 12-year-old all over again (and well in fact I felt like one at the show). I was able to see the Toronto show and then my boyfriend surprised me with tickets to the Hamilton show. I was ecstatic to say the least. Now, I was never really that girl that hung around the buses or anything like that but that day for some reason I decided to do that. I am glad I did because to my surprise Howie actually remembered me. That made my day but I was still on a mission that day to meet the elusive Nick Carter. After the show we went back outside and hung out by the buses. I actually took a seat on the curb right in front of the first bus, which was between the buses and the backdoor entrance. As I sat I heard a bunch of girls screaming, leaning back I saw that Nick had left his bus. I slowly moved to stand up waving at him as he got closet to get his attention and once again he dodged me, he lifted his hand, winked at me and walked away again. I was like 'not again Carter', and shook my fist at his back.
Now, lets skip forward a few days. I set my alarm for 5am (crazy I know) and got up and headed to downtown Toronto. Why you might ask? Well Nick Carter was releasing his second solo album here in Canada that day and was doing a signing at a local HMV store. I was worried at some part that I was actually going to be late with my 7am arrival and I would miss one of the limited 300 wristbands they were giving out. To my luck (and suprise) I was in the first fifty people. I sat on the sidewalk, in the rain and waited for three hours for the store to open like the dedicated (or crazy) fan that I am. Of course during this wait it gave me a chance to talk to some other fans that were sitting around and make some new friends.
Once I had the Universal Music purple wristband secured on my wrist, and the CD in my purse I headed home for a couple hours. It wasn't long before I was back downtown to meet up with my new friend for Nick's apperance on Much Music's show New Music Live. It was there that I met a couple more new friends and we headed inside to await the arrival of Nick. Well to say his appearance was a disappointment would be putting it mildly (no offence intended towards Patrick Stump, who was also there). I think 99% of the audience that day was there to see Nick and his brief ten minute appearance wasn’t really any sort of satisfying in the least. After having to wait around for the show to end at 6pm, which ironically was the same time that the signing began, the four of us together hightailed it down Queen Street towards the HMV to park ourselves at what was the end of the line.
Now, at this point I was getting nervous. I can’t explain to you why because I don’t even know. Once I was inside the store and getting closer to the stairs which would lead up to where he was signing autographs for some reason I wasn’t so nervous anymore. This was the moment I had been waiting forever for and I wasn’t going to let me being nervous ruin that. Now, as I approached the table after security made sure that I only had his new album in my hand, I graciously smiled at him and gave him my name. It was then that I mentioned that this exact moment was 17 years in the making. He sort of looked at me with that ‘really’ look and I just smiled and said really. After signing my CD he leaned over and I got myself a hug with a ‘thank you baby’ whispered in my ear. Sweet touch don’t you think?
After all was said and done and we were back outside talking about our experience I realized that oe of my missions for life was finally complete. I had actually met all five Backstreet Boys. Of course first thing I wanted to do was get home and pull out my piece of paper with my bucket list on it and scratch it off. But it made me realize something truly significant, it doesn’t matter how long you have to wait for something if you have patience and are motivated enough to wait you will always be able to grasp what you want.
I guess the whole lesson in this is the fact that dreams do come true. NEVER STOP DREAMING!
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