Found Family

The Christmas Eve before my 11th birthday, 4 of my siblings and I were visiting my father’s house like we had been doing since my parents’ divorce. After dinner, we sat on his living room floor while he and my step-mom distributed our gifts. My two older brothers were teasing me incessantly about liking this new “boy band" that they claimed wasn’t a band. I honestly knew very little about them at the time. I was so annoyed with my brothers and in an effort to get them to stop teasing me, I declared adamantly, as I unwrapped my gift, that I emphatically did not like the group and to let it go. Mid sentence, I look down and what did I find myself holding? None other than a cassette for the debut album of New Kids on the Block. 

Photo: NKOTB debut album cover.jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Kids_on_the_Block_%28album%29#/media/File:NKOTB_debut_album_cover.jpg (Derived from a scan of the album cover (creator of this digital version is irrelevant as the copyright in all equivalent images is still held by the same party) Copyright held by the record company or the artist. Claimed as fair use regardless.)

I immediately felt tremendous guilt as I looked up and saw my step-mother’s face. She was mortified but said ever so sweetly, “If you don’t like it, dear, we can exchange your gifts for something else.”  

“No! No! I’m sure they’re great. I really haven’t had a chance to listen to them much yet!” (Did she say “gifts”?) I quickly moved to my next gift with everyone watching me now, hoping to put the blunder behind me, but this lady didn’t just get me the cassette. She got me a t-shirt, posters, and buttons…all the bling. No wonder she looked so mortified! Do you know what I did next? 

I opened the brand new cassette and popped it into my “portable cassette player recorder”, pushed play, and listened to it as loud as I could, initially to annoy my brothers. Next, I rewound the tape and played it again and I continued that cycle repeatedly through the entire Christmas break (which used to last much longer) because I was honestly hooked. 

During the early years of elementary school, my family moved around a lot (13 different elementary school transitions) which made it really difficult to make friends. However, the turning point came in my fifth-grade year when I finally completed an entire school year at the same location, progressing to middle school alongside familiar faces. While there were familiar faces, I was still quite timid and hadn’t quite connected with too many kids. 

I distinctly remember returning to school after the Christmas break, only to find a newfound connection with classmates proudly donning their New Kids on the Block (NKOTB) gear. It was as if we had entered an exclusive club, an experience far surpassing the satisfaction of any adult Costco membership, complete with secret head nods, cool hand gestures, and dance moves. 

My oldest sister and her friend graciously agreed to chauffeur a carload of girls to the New Kids on the Block concert - marking my inaugural concert experience. The event was nothing short of electric, with everyone embracing the 1980s aesthetic, featuring the side ponytails, KEDS shoes, jean shorts fashioned from cut-off jeans, and custom designed T-shirts adorned with neon-colored puff pain spelling out NKOTB along with the names of each band member. We looked so cute.

And then there’s that thrilling rush of witnessing Joey singing… “Please don’t go girl…” LIVE! https://youtu.be/2txArOEsLPc?feature=shared

Fast forward to July 2019, when two of my fellow mom friends extended an invitation for me to join them at the New Kids on the Block MIXTAPE TOUR at the Amway in Orlando, Florida. It’s safe to say that some of our family and friends didn’t quite grasp the level of exhilarating chaos involved in preparing for this event. This wasn’t just a casual outing; we were determined to break free from our usual mom attire. So, we embraced the nostalgia with gusto, donning matching customized t-shirts adorned with 80s neon colors, electric blue eyeliner, and  teased high ponytails. 

 

Photos: July 13, 2019 NKOTB- MixTape Tour - Amway, Orlando, FL

As we entered the Amway, the nearly sold out venue was charged with unbridled joy. Attendees were quick to notice and appreciate each other’s outfits, offering nods of approval or engaging in conversations about the impeccable fashion choices. For a few magical hours, tens of thousands of people shared a collective moment, transcending reality and being transported to a different era. It felt like we had formed a new, temporary family bonded by the music and the memories of days gone by. 

K-pop has produced a comparable impact on me. Perhaps it’s my empathetic nature absorbing the infectious joy emanating from the surroundings. Whether I am observing the exhilaration from my children, immersed in my own anticipation, or playfully annoying my husband with K-pop trivia, these encounters have been profoundly transformative to me and my family. We have developed a stronger bond within our own family. With complete strangers, it’s as if there’s an imperceptible thread linking us all through the collective energy of the fandom. Like a found family. 

I invite you to leave me stories and comments about moments like these that made you feel connected, even in a room full of strangers. 

Until next time…Be Well

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Disclaimer:

K-Pop Mom NC is not directly monetized or sponsored. I may discuss or endorse certain products, groups, or companies but I am not affiliated with any of them. I am the co-owner of Niche & Nicknacks (www.nichenicknacks.com) which may benefit from the awareness drawn by this blog. The intention of this blog is to share real life experiences that may or may not resonate with others, but for those it does resonate with, I hope that it brings you joy, comfort, and awareness that you truly are not alone.