Oh yes I did.
I wore my black leggings and converse all-star hi-tops and my sister’s giant down-to-my-knees black-and-white houndstooth sweater and my black Joey Jeremiah hat over my horrific perm. I was a big fan of that horrible hat.
(Yes. I know. There are NO words.)
I sang through the entire concert set. I cried when Joey McIntyre took the stage. I cried when he left the stage. I screamed until my voice was completely gone. I was convinced that Jonathan Knight was totally looking at ME during one of the songs. It, at the time, was the best thing to ever happen to 12-year-old-Ali. I smiled about that night every single day for an entire year each time I opened up my locker and My Teen Beat Magazine cut-out of the boys stared back at me…
KISS. KISS. Love. Love. Joey McIntyre was going to be mine. I knew everything about him. His birthdate, his hometown, his favorite songs, his favorite color, how he liked to eat his pizza. I memorized every single thing I read about him. I learned all of his dance moves.
When we took the younglings to see Justin Bieber: Never Say Never this weekend, as soon as I saw the footage of the screaming and crying girls, I was instantly taken back to my childhood and that night I saw the New Kids on the Block live and in person. I would have given one of my eye teeth to have been close enough to touch one of them.
And then, all of a sudden, I GOT IT.
The Bieber Fever.
No, I don’t personally have it, even though he DOES like to wear hoodies, but dude is a wee young for me. What I mean is, I finally understand it. For a while now, I have been in the that smug sweepy-banged kid who sings that baby song sure is overrated isn’t he? camp. But after seeing the movie from start to finish, I get it. I get the appeal. He is a small-town Canadian boy who used the power of social media and the internet and his ridiculously supportive mom and grandparents and friends to help make his dreams come true. He seems funny, down-to-earth, hard-working, and he loves his mommy. Sure, he sings bubble-gum poppy music that just isn’t my thing, but I can really appreciate what this kid has accomplished. Where he came from, what he has done, and what he is bound to do in the future.
And regardless of what you think about the kid, he can play the hell out of a drum-set and is actually quite talented.
Now if I could just get that ridiculous Never Say Never song out of my head…I’m embarrassing the hell out of my 4th grader. I really should pull out my Joey Jeremiah hat and REALLY embarrass her.

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