Fandom Friday

I suppose I should write this before I calm down, because then I won't be irritated any longer and probably won't even write this at all.

First off, let me get this out in the open right up front for all to see.

I am a Fangirl. Yes, in all of the horrid ways you are most likely envisioning.

Aside from being a Fangirl, I am almost 56 years old. "So what?" you ask. And if you are indeed asking, then I adore you. Because to me, being a Fangirl makes life fun. It gives me things to enjoy, introduces me to like-minded people, and has brought a wealth of new friends into my life over the years.

Being almost-56 I have seen a number of fandoms come and go. Shall I name them? Why yes I shall, thank you for asking (again).

Elvis, The Beatles, Herman's Hermits, The Monkees, Bobby Sherman, The Partidge Family, David Cassidy (see "The Partridge Family"). Skip ahead a few years to Star Trek. Included in that would be Star Trek: TOS (the Original Series), Star Trek: TNG (the Next Generation), Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and Star Trek: Voyager. Skip ahead again to Pop Music, specifically, The Backstreet Boys. No they aren't dead, no they didn't break up, yes, they're still recording and doing concert tours. I should know, I just attended two of them last week.

My first concert was to see Sonny and Cher back in 1967 at Hialeah Race Track. In 1968 my mother let me attend the WQAM Pop Festival at Gulfstream Park. (I was in 9th grade.) I got to see Iron Butterfly, Jose Feliciano, Three Dog Night, The Grassroots, The Turtles, and a bunch more whose names escape me. I saw David Cassidy there just a few years ago. He's old now, like me. So are The Monkees, I saw them in 1986 and 1989.

Let's not forget seeing "Hard Day's Night" and "Help" in the movie theaters and wearing out the soundtrack LP's. Herman's Hermits made a movie too, "Hold On". I wore out that LP as well.

Fast forward again quite a few years to my Sci-Fi years when I attended Trek cons (conventions, and no I didn't wear pointy ears) and met up with people I had met (gasp!) on the internet. None of them were axe murderers, I guess I'm just lucky that way. I met, had my picture taken with, and interviewed my crush from Voyager. Seeing him again at a later con, my family (yes, I got my family to go with me) was floored when he greeted me by practically leaping to his feet to hug me over the autograph table. "Wow, he really remembers you!"

Several years later my four year old daughter discovered the Backstreet Boys on their special on the Disney Channel, and I watched it guiltily when it aired again. I listened (guiltily) to their albums and then bought (guiltily) a copy for myself. She moved on to Britney and the Jonas Brothers (the apple is very close to the tree, folks) but I stuck with BSB. Why? Because I enjoy their music. It's singable, it's optimistic, it's romantic, and they aren't half bad to look at, either. I know I'm old enough to be their mother. There's really no need to point that out, is there? Bach was old enough to be a great-great grandfather of mine, but that has never stopped me from enjoying his music.

Who am I hurting by enjoying myself? You? The guy down the street? Have I ever mocked the music or the things that you like? No, I haven't, because my mama taught me better.

Now, all that being said, I have concert photos, who wants to see? ;)