More Than I Bargained For

You could say I always marched to the beat of my own drummer. I was never one to conform, follow the trend...most times I could be found going against the grain. It was my goal to do what I loved and loved to love what I do...that's how my parents taught me to live me life....

That has been the case for as far back as I can remember. I was the girl with polka dot leggings, matching polka dot shirt, big black belt, stretchy mini skirt, BRIGHT blue Chuck Taylors and her ever so stylish black & white Donnie Wahlberg Peace Sign Necklace. I lived for the looks, the stares, the "Oh my God, what are you wearing?" faces. I loved it when I got the "New Kids on the Block?...They are so lame!" comments. Why? Because I LOVED them. I was filled with a plethora, yes I said plethora, of useless NKOTB facts. Donnie's birthday? You got it! Jordan's favorite color? No problem. The name of Jon's dog? Off the top of my head. Danny's mom's name? No brainer people. What color are Joe's eyes? ARE YOU BLIND? DUH!

I followed them from the beginning to the end...they made me laugh, cry, smile, jump up and down, squeal like a school girl (Did you see Jordan, he TOTALLY just stopped on me while moving his arm and signing "I'll be loving, loving, YOUUUUUUUUUU! I think I just might die." I followed to where their separate lives took them. Bought the solo CD's, went to bars to watch them play, watched the movies (even if they totally freaked me out), STILL listened to my TAPES, watched my VHS recording of Step by Step and flipped through my filafax full of Mint Condition BOP magazines.

Then, I had to grow up. Did I throw my boys out? Nope, just hid them like a trusted "Friend" (NO COMMENTS FROM THE PEANUT GALLERY), under my bed. Safe and sound for a rainy day OR A FREAKIN' COMEBACK!

It's as if my ALMOST mid-life crisis dreams came true. My boys from Boston came back and with a vengeance. Once again I squealed like a little girl. This time, with all the sexiness, I had what I like to call a "JOEgasm". Yep, I went there. I said it.

Not only did these five amazing men bring back their wonderful sound, they brought back my youthful spirit. They were the swift kick in the ass I needed. They snapped me back to, what "I" would call reality, others may disagree. But the one thing that you cannot take away from me in all of this are 5 things -

1. I had to acknowledge that at one time in my life I was so unhappy that I wanted to end it all. Yes, I tried to "Kill" myself. Because of JORDAN, I was able to vocalize this reality and deal with it. This man, this group, their music SAVED MY LIFE...and I got to thank him.

2. Rekindled friendships. Remember that friend you had in elementary school? The one you got food poisoning with? The one who went to prom with you? And then, when life got in the way you parted ways? Well - she's back. And it seems you needed each other, even if you didn't "think" you did. That's my Kimmie...so glad we found our way back to each other with a little bit of "Summertime".

3. Perfect Strangers. I went to Cleveland to see my 5 fabulous boys from Boston. Made it a girls getaway. Had plans with some online acquaintances to do some "sightseeing" around the arena. In our impromptu meet & greet we found a "pair". Heather and Paul. WOW! It's like we were meant to be together in that time and place because we haven't been without each other since. We traveled across country to MEET these guys because the three of us (Heather, Kim & I), just HAD to...we got Donnie fever with our Cleveland Bus Facetime. He does strange things to people...like scream and run after the bus and yell "I'll see you in St. Louis....5* baby!"...only to find out that those 5* tickets were SOLD OUT...ok, next stop KANSAS CITY! Needless to say I've made a friend for life and have my own personal ROBO (I shall call him ROLO).

4. Internet Sisters. How does THAT happen? You are on line on a community, in a chat room and WHAM out of nowhere your very own Pocket Friend shows up, Jordan Lover and ALL. I call her my pocket friend because she is the friend you would want to have in your pocket at all times so when you NEEDED her she was there. That's my Lisa...that's where I keep her, if I had a pocket close to my heart I would keep her there. Then, there's my alter ego - LaTOYA! She belongs to my NYC Girl (ode to my JoeMac), fellow Jordan LUVAH and all around good gal. The laughs we've shared (LISA, stop yelling into the phone! LATANYA - LATANYA!) Last but not least is my opposite - My Natalie! We compliment each other so well. She makes me laugh. I make her laugh. We are never afraid to GO THERE...we say what we mean and mean what we say...that's just how we roll!

5. FREEDOM - LIFE - LAUGHTER - LOVE - MUSIC - COMMITMENT - A PLACE TO BELONG AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Thank you, thank you Jordan, Jon, Joe, Donnie & Danny for waking me up from my slumber...you are more than you can ever imagine...more than I ever dreamed I was was worthy of...you have given me so much...words fail me...

Joe - YOU are my Sinatra!

Jordan - my life line...my true Knight in Shining Armor...

Jon - My inner voice...you reawakened my need, my want to write...your blogs inspire me...

Danny - You made a "Call to Arms" - I accepted. I have never been more proud to be a "part" of something so much bigger than I am. I hope my efforts in REMEMBERING BETTY are not unnoticed.

Donnie - You make me feel sexy. Something I never in a million years imagined myself to be. Even with cutoff sweatpants, jacked up hair, fuzzy slippers and a New Kids T - YOU give a look or say SOMETHING that makes me feel SEXY.

Thank you!

Simply A Jordan Girl

With BiKnightual Tendencies

Mac Issues

AND a serious case of the Double D's

AKA: Kelly