30 Days of Thanks - Day 14 - 90's Boy Bands

I know what you're thinking, "weren't you just thankful for music yesterday?"  Yes.  Yes, I was.  But, I feel that I didn't give quite enough recognition to a specific genre that will always and forever be near and dear to my heart.  90's boy bands.

How else would I have ever realized that the boys needed to quit playing games with my heart because if he really loved me, he'd never break my heart.  I learned some really valuable life lessons through the extremely well thought-out lyrics from New Kids on the Block, the Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, and 98 Degrees.  I have to give credit to LFO, SoulDecision, O-Town, and Immature.  And Hanson.  Mmmbop.  Without these special guys, I wouldn't have made it through some of the toughest, most emotional years of my life.  I was able to Hang Tough. I was given affirmation that I WAS good enough... I really DID have the right stuff.  God had spent a little more time on me.  And when I was kind of faded, I knew that I was feelin' alright. Because seriously, here's what it boils down to - you have so many relationships in this life, but only one or two will last.  But, then you turn your back.... and they're gone.  So fast.  So fast.  Sometimes, those relationships were really short lived and it was fly if a girl stopped by for the summer.

Teenage and college years are an emotional roller coaster of the ups and downs of relationships.  I remember... it could be downright desolate at times.  But, thank goodness... just when you were feeling lonely and afraid that they had left you, the Backstreet Boys reminded everybody that they were back.  Alright.  You learned the meaning of being lonely.  And, step by step, if you tried hard enough, you could be larger than life.  

Personally, thinking back on those past relationships, I think the hardest thing I ever had to do was come to terms with the truth that it really was tearing up my heart to be with you, so I had to go.  And even though you just wanted to be with me and my love was all I had to give, I wanted it that way.  Your standards were a little too high for someone of my maturity level at the time... it had to be all or nothing at all.  I couldn't live up to that.  Sure, sure... you said that I was your favorite girl, you wanted me back, you'd go anywhere for me, and that you were the perfect fan.  You yelled, in the pouring rain, "Stop it, girl.  Please don't go."  But when it was all said and done, I had to leave. Bye. Bye. Bye.  No strings attached.

I loved you, 90's boy bands.  A whole, whole lot.  I spent embarrassing amounts of money to sit in the nosebleed section of crowded arenas just to catch a glimpse of hair that more closely resembled ramen noodles than I ever fully realized until recently.  I drove miles and miles.  Wasted craploads of gas(oline).  I went to Wal-Mart at midnight to ensure that I was able to purchase one of the first copies of your newly released CD's. I just couldn't take the chance of them selling out.  I'm pretty sure I would've literally died if that had happened.  I plastered my dorm room walls with your posters and pictures.  I had amazing dance parties to your dope tunes.  But, don't you worry, because even though we're not together right now... I'll be loving you forever.