The Blairs: A Backstreet Tale

All persons appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Nothing takes you back ten years more than going to a Backstreet Boys' concert, she thought as she excitedly pressed "pay now" on the Ticketmaster site. It had been what seemed like decades since she attended the last one. With a job, college and many duties between the two, who has time to remember a past love? Things started flooding back. Remember the dozens of albums, including the Japanese versions of shaped CDs? How about the thousands of pictures and crinkled ship bags on display in various colors of purple, blue, green and yellow? Then there were the pins worn religiously like a wedding ring and every memorized fact about each of their family members, cologne-worn and favorite brand of clothing. Don't forget the celebrated birthdays, complete with the action figure and a birthday cake. "I could never tell any soul about those things now," she whispered as she smiled to herself, "except maybe a few old fans who could confess to the same obsession." Besides, I'm 24, she thought. Almost all were married with children and no one even remembered meeting her. Then a smile the size of the Grinch's as he thought about a messed-up Christmas came across her face. But, there was Nick! Nick was left. The concert was approaching faster than she thought and she couldn't hold her excitement.

The trick was to not come across as a "fan." She convinced herself of this years back after she'd been left speechless with tear streaks down her cheeks after meeting AJ, Howie and Nick. She'd kicked herself too many times over her stupid behavior and vowed she'd never ever do the same thing. They could meet a million girls doing the same things as she did and there had to be a way to set herself apart from the other girls, who truthfully, were skinnier, prettier and much more skanky than what she thought herself to be. Sure, she could get others, but how many really could say that they "got" a Backstreet Boy? There has to be a way to set myself apart from someone like Paris. Then, she shuddered at the thought. NICK DATED PARIS HILTON. Vomit tickled her throat. "Gag me," she almost shouted out loud. "Here goes nothing," she said as she stared one last time in the mirror before shrugging her shoulders and leaving the house for a great night--one she promised herself she'd make as a memory.

Of course she knew every song. What "biggest fan" wouldn't? It was strange when she saw others weren't singing like she was. Miraculously, she'd snatched third row seats. Nothing she hadn't had before though. Years back, she won front row Friday seats on the radio and there couldn't have been more enthusiasm in her whole house for weeks. She had to admit, she took these seats a lot more normal. She had grown up a little, at least she thought so. She no longer counted down minutes to video premieres or wrote fake wedding plans. Then it happened. Right in the second chorus of "I Want it That Way." He looked at me! He waved to me! TO ME! She could barely handle the irony. She shook her head. That's not irony you idiot. Just luck. Nick Carter waved at me. Crap. Do I look okay? Was a acting too nervous? Then the stupid girl next to her turned and screamed. "NICK I LOVE YOU! OH MY GOSH HE JUST WAVED AT ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" She wanted to punch the 13-year-old in the throat. She wanted to get in her face like a drill sergeant, not able to touch her but could scream all she wanted...........................................................

OKAY so my Backstreet tale didn't end exactly like a fan wants it to. I didn't get to meet anyone, didn't really have any extraordinary story to tell afterwards other than the fact that I got to see the Backstreet Boys after not seeing them for over three years. I can't believe it has been that long. BUT the concert was just as amazing as I thought it would be and was great to see them looking better than I remembered.

The concert was June 23rd in Salt Lake at the Energy Solutions arena. Of course, we bought the tickets right when they went on sale and ended up getting 14th row!

Joanna and my mom came with me and I have to say that it was such a fun night! There was this lady in the 12th row next to us. She was on the end of the row and EVERY single time a security guard or "someone special" walked by her, they talked to her, shook her hand, whispered to her, talked to her...ALWAYS something. I knew the lady was someone. It didn't take me long to realize that it had to have been AJ's mom.

I've met the lady before. 11 years ago actually. If it wasn't her, (she later went backstage with her special tag and sticker on over her heart so I'm almost positive it was her) the lady looked an awful lot like her. We grabbed some dinner at the gateway before heading over there and got a Backstreet bag afterward. One of the stage hands gave me "their water bottle" off stage and I don't know the exact count, but let's just say I have many bottles the Boys have put their mouths on!

Some other shots of the night: