I LOVE YOU, NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK!

Oh, New Kids on the Block, how I love you. You have provided me with an escape from reality since I was in the second grade. From my first concert as an 8 year old in Carver Hawkeye Arena, Iowa City, IA, I have loved these boys! Unfortunately, this concert was both blissful and bittersweet as NKOTB holds such a connection with my beloved mommy. We were supposed to go to the concert in 1988 together, but mom was taking treatments with her first diagnosis and was unable to go at the last minute. I was sad that she couldn't be there, but happily went home and told her all about it. I remember her saying that night that we would go together next time..... Sadly, the group broke up and there were no more concerts until their comeback in 2008. While I was on a plane out to NYC to see their first appearance on the Today Show, mom never had any intentions of joining me. Let's just say she wasn't nearly as fanatical as me, no matter how "nice looking" she thought Johnathan was :) We were, however, supposed to attend a concert that following Spring in Des Moines. As luck (or misfortune) should have it, I was on bed rest with Brecken and unable to go..... Another missed concert that we didn't get to use our tickets for. Last fall, when tickets went on sale for their upcoming tour, we bought tickets and started planning our "girls weekend" in Chicago for June 2011. We vowed NOTHING would stand in our way. We were so excited.... Not only for the concert, but for time away from work and life, time to just laugh and talk and order late night pizza. I always loved our girl's nights and girl's weekends and we both took advantage of them whenever we were able to make it work. Sadly, it wasn't meant to be. I got rid of the tickets to the Chicago show last month, unable to go without Mom there with me.

The concert I attended last week with Lissa was a BLAST.... But I would be lying if I said I didn't think of mom often. The whole night, I could picture her smile, know what she would have said at certain parts of the show, and could hear her laugh. It was a happy night and I had fun for the both of us! Below are a few pictures of our night....

Getting ready for the concert....

Settled into our seats... EXCITED!

Opening act: Midnight Red

Opening act: Mr. Schuster from Glee.

NKOTB and BSB

Brian Littrell (BSB) waved at Lissa and me!!!!!!

I am posting this picture to show the MAN rocking out in front of us. Note: There was obviously a much higher female population than male, but I felt like we were surrounded by guys.... And as you can see, not just guys that came kicking and screaming with their girlfriends. This man was clearly enjoying himself!