Hanging Tough with the Right Stuff

I may not have adequately relayed this before, so I’ll just come out and say it now: I am a real wimp when it comes to breaking rules.  I just don’t have enough fight in me to want to go down for some petty misdemeanor, so I choose instead to follow the rules.  Even if the rules say that we cannot bring a camera into the arena and everybody else is doing it.  And even if LCD screens have replaced cigarette lighters as the audience glow item of the day.

Susan and I followed the rules and did not bring our cameras into the stadium.  Did you hear that, AT&T Sports and Conference Center?  We followed your rules.

But my girl Amber didn’t.  And Amber was sitting front row center.  There is also a rumor that Amber hugged Jordan Knight, but I am so not into gossip.

Here is Amber’s picture of me and Susan at the concert.

We’re in the back middle section. I’m in a white shirt and Susan’s in a pink top. You can’t see us? Shame.
I’ll tell you who you can see thanks to my friend Amber and her daring to break the evidently mere suggestion of rules at this weekend’s New Kids on the Block Concert: after 15 long years of wondering where they went, you can see The New Kids on the Block!!!

Now, I know what you are thinking here, you’re probably wondering if I was able to keep my calm. After all, I wasn’t of the pillow case owning, t-shirt wearing, big bubble button donning breed of NKOTB fan. You’re wondering if I chose to sit and simply appreciate the pleasure of the moment or did I scream like a thirteen year old from the first chords of “Right Stuff” until the final drum beats of “Hangin’ Tough”?

I screamed.  Shamelessly and loud, much to the displeasure of some girl’s boyfriend who had the misfortune of being seated next to me.  I can honestly say that it was not for joy at seeing THE boy band of my youth trying to recapture theirs, but for sheer volume of frenzied excitement of simply being there with masses of women, except for some girl’s boyfriend who had the misfortune of being seated next to me, and reliving this primal piece of youth.  There was something to it.  Words escape me.

And then Donny had to go and start asking us if perhaps there was a lady in the audience who might like to take advantage of a one time chance to be his lady.

Well, now. I don’t know, Donny. I am a bit concerned now about your longevity at relationship building skills. Didn’t you and your wife split shortly before you had this little reunion tour? Wouldn’t it hurt her feelings to know that you’re up on stage offering the goods for free? Boy band crush feelings were replaced by feelings of sadness for what may or may not be the ex wife/girlfriend/baby mama of one Donny Wahlberg.

I happen to have a fellow, Donny.  And he’s what we in the outside world call “a keeper”.  Here’s hoping you meet (and/or morph into) one of those someday.

All in all, it was truly the best birthday I can remember having for many years.  We were away from home just long enough to miss it and we had a chance to really relax.  In fact, Susan and I have agreed that we will be having these adventures more often.  Though likely not with Donny Wahlberg, the shameless flirt.

*Thank you so much to Amber for the great pictures.  I promise not to tell anybody that you kisssed Donny.