By Tamara Cross, a life-long supporter of UCP, from her MySpace blog.
People have been asking what happened Tuesday, October 21, 2008 (which I affectionately refer to as "New Kids Cousin Day"). I saw the New Kids on the Block in concert that night at the St. Paul Xcel Energy Center. I'd like to tell you a story of how a 20-year dream came true earlier that day.
First, I should give a bit of a history. Some of you already know this, many do not. I have been a huge New Kids on the Block (NKOTB) fan since I was 14 years old. In the very beginning, I knew there was something very special about them; I just couldn't put my finger on what. But, shortly after I became a fan, I was reading a teen magazine (such as BOP) and I realized why I had this special feeling. The New Kids were the Teen Spokesmen for United Cerebral Palsy (UCP).
I could not believe it. A group of guys my age knew of CP and supported something I have. It was, still is and always will be, a very big deal to me. At that moment, they changed my life. Never had I experienced something like that and even though I knew they obviously didn't know I existed, it was a feeling of "family" at that moment. Right after reading that article, I sat down at the kitchen table with my cousin Danielle and wrote a poem dedicated to them, called "Why You Mean So Much". I put it in my poetry journal and made a pact with myself, that if I would ever have the opportunity to meet all of them at once, I would personally hand that poem to them and tell them, "thank you for supporting UCP."
This is the poem:
Never in my wildest dreams did I think that opportunity would present itself 20 years later; and 15 years after they originally broke up.
Fast forward to this summer, 2008. NKOTB have officially reunited, releasing their first CD and embarking on a world tour, for the first time in 15 years - including our St. Paul, Minnesota show on October 21st.
On August 8th, NKOTB were going to be celebrating the grand opening of Best Buy at the Mall of America (MOA) , which consisted of a three song performance with a meet-and-greet. I thought my time had finally come and I was going to give them the poem I wrote. However, there were several "catches" in order to be admitted into the Rotunda area of the MOA, where this was to take place (it's on the first floor of the mall, smack in the middle). I knew there was going to be several hours of standing involved with this (up to 14 hours), so I planned on renting a wheelchair, which is what I do when I go to the MOA anyway. The same day the NKOTB appearance was announced, I got on the phone and called the MOA to find out the procedure for those in wheelchairs and wondered how we would be treated. When I had first called the MOA, I was informed by the security, that if we were "lucky enough to get bracelets", they'd let us into the Rotunda area and I would be guaranteed a spot in the special needs area. However, when I called them again just a few days before the event, I was told a completely different story. Apparently the special needs area would be on a "first come, first serve basis only; due to limited space in the special needs area". Basically, they couldn't tell me if I would be able to even have a safe spot in the special needs area, regardless if we waited in line for hours and had a wristband.
I felt very discriminated against. Anyone who was "able-bodied" and had a wrist band, was not first come first serve. But for some reason, those of us with special needs, were. Because nothing was concrete regarding how those of us in wheelchairs would be treated and how safe it would be, Renae, a friend of mine, and I made the very difficult and heart wrenching decision not to go. In the end, I was glad we didn't go, because over 10,000 fans showed up. Who knows what would've happened to me.
We were very upset by how the entire event was handled and how I was treated, so Renae wrote complaint letters to the MOA, Best Buy and our Minneapolis radio station KDWB, who were also involved with the event. None of the letters were ever acknowledged. It was so discouraging. Two months after sending them, we had still received no response.
All that changed Friday, October 17th.
The countdown was officially on for the Reunion concert. It was going to be my cousin Danielle (whom everyone knows is my "twin sister". We went to every NK concert together back in the day, so it was only natural she be with me) and my friends Margie and Lauri (it was to be our first NK concert together!) The concert was only a few short days away. Friday evening, Renae calls me. I knew something was up because she sounded weird. She asked if I was sitting down (of course I was) and then said, "Ok, I'm just going to read this email to you." and she took a very deep breath.
This is what she read:
Dear Renae,
My name is Stephanie Timberlake and I work for Universal Music Group here in Minneapolis. Best Buy's Jill Jasper kindly forwarded me your email from 8/13/08 regarding your friend Tamara and the confusion that occurred with the New Kids On The Block appearance at the MOA. Long story short – I would like to try to help you and Tamara have the opportunity to meet the band on 10/21/08 at the Xcel Energy Center. I cannot guarantee anything as many times meet N greets can change or be cancelled, etc. due to so many obvious reasons – late flights, illness, etc. BUT I'd like to try. We are currently planning a soundcheck party with the band due to tentatively occur at 4:30 pm day of show.
Can you email me or call me (at the below number) if you are still interested? I would call you but I only have your email address so I am hoping you get this in time!
Warm Regards,
Stephanie
Director of Partnership Marketing
Universal
I could not believe it, I was going to be meeting the New Kids on the Block! After 20 years, I was finally going to be giving them the poem. Things like this do not happen to me. No one has really ever come to "my defense" like Renae did and when someone has, never has anything like this been the outcome. It was a very surreal thing to comprehend... and it's still slowly hitting me now, as I sit and write this. Stephanie's kindness and big heart is truly overwhelming to me.
Because Renae was already attending a VIP Meet-and-Greet with NKOTB prior to the concert, she graciously had Danielle go in her place. There is no one else I could imagine sharing that moment with than Danielle, and I will always be eternally grateful to Renae. The letter she wrote made two dreams come true that day — mine and Danielle's. I cannot say "thank you" enough.
Flash forward to Tuesday, October 21st, excitement and emotions are running high. The minute I opened my door, to let Danielle in, we greeted each other with a scream and a big hug. Man, it felt good to be a teenager in a grown-up's body for a day (well, I would have to say that Danielle was at least an 11 year old trapped in a grown-up's body)!
We made it to the Xcel Energy Center in plenty of time. While waiting in the lobby with everyone else, I saw Renae and her fiancée Mark; along with my friend Denise (whom I haven't seen in several years) and even met a new MySpace friend named Kristen (who was about to attend her very first NKOTB concert that night).
Since Stephanie, the woman who made all this possible for Danielle and I, could not be there, she arranged for us to be taken care of by her good friend Karena. We met Karena and she brought along her cousin, as well. We joked it was "cousin day with the New Kids." Both of them are extremely nice and as the day went on, we were able to get to know each other. We've all promised to keep in touch since then.
As time went on, no one knew what was going on. Our group was extremely small, with six people total - Universal Music people and guests. Unfortunately, since it was really cutting it close and we knew the New Kids still had about 200 VIP fans to meet, they decided not to do any sound check. That was fine with me.
Eventually we were lead backstage. Since we were being pressed for time, there were several groups put together. Most were people who won contests from the radio station KDWB, through Target, Best Buy, etc.
As we were lining up backstage, we were told to stay with our specific group. Because everything was running very late, we were not allowed to use our camera (or take them out) and could not get an autograph. We would only be able to take a group picture, that a representative would take and then email it to us. That was fine with me, as well. Only four people in our group, so we knew we were the lucky ones.
I was very thankful to be in the wheelchair Danielle got for me, because we were waiting for a long time. I felt bad for Danielle, who was standing the whole time and she was wearing heels. While waiting, we saw: both opening acts, including Natasha Bedingfield, all their band members, bodyguards, personal attendants, family members, etc. It was interesting and helped the time go by.
Suddenly, Danielle grabbed my shoulder and said she saw Donnie. He was alone! I think he was getting antsy, just like the rest of us . He was walking down the line, giving each person a hug. As he was getting closer to us, I started nudging Danielle saying "Danielle, here comes Donnie! You're gonna get your hug!" Donnie was always her favorite. Then, he was right there, in front of Danielle. He said, "Hi, how are you?". Danielle said "Hi, I'm Danielle" (she sounded so cute) and he gave her a big hug, the kind that swayed from side to side. I was so proud of her for being able to say her name! I know she was dying inside.
Then it was my turn. There are several benefits to meeting someone while in a wheelchair. One of them being, that they come down to your level and that's exactly what he did. Donnie knelt down, so he was eye level with me. He looked me in the eyes and said, "Hi sweetie" and asked how I was, as he gave me a very big, but very gentle hug. Since I didn't know if the rest of the guys were coming down the line too, I thought I better give him his copy of the poem.
This was it. The dream was about to come true.
I took out the poem and said, "I have this poem for you. I wrote it when I was 14 years-old and I vowed that if I ever met you guys as a group, you would each get a copy." Just as I was about to tell him I have Cerebral Palsy, I could feel my emotions were getting the best of me. My voice became very quiet and he said "What darlin'?", as he got very close to my face to hear better. I could tell my voice was quivering, as I told him about having CP. Just then, he squeezed my hand and looked me in the eye again. His eyes were filling up with tears. He leaned forward and gave me a very tender kiss on the cheek and said, "I will read this the minute I sit down, I promise", into my ear.
Even though I was surrounded by several people, it was such a private moment. He gave me another hug and then got up to move over to the next group of girls.
I couldn't believe it. I finally gave Donnie Wahlberg his very own copy of my UCP poem and soon, the others would be holding it in their hands, too.
Shortly thereafter, we were told it was time. Unfortunately, Jonathan Knight was unable to make it to our meet-and-greet. From what I gather, I believe he may have been giving a radio interview. That is a bit of a bummer, but what can you do? The others were there and I knew I was going to make the most of the moment.
Most groups moved by very quickly. Go up, stand next to a guy, get the picture taken and leave. Many were lucky if they even got a hug. That's how pressed for time it was becoming. Danielle asked if I was nervous and I said no. I honestly wasn't. It almost felt like a family reunion, of sorts. It's amazing how calm I really was. Before you know it, it was our turn.
Danielle pushes me straight toward Joe McIntyre, right up to him. He kind of tilted his head to the side and suddenly, "Hey!" he yelled. I will always remember the look on his face and the smile. Just thinking about it now, makes me (and my heart) smile. He gave me such a huge hug, that he almost lifted me out of my chair and while he hugged me he said, "It's been such a long time, hasn't it?", as he rubbed my back and arms. The only thing I could say was, "Yes it has been a long time!" I was completely dumbfounded.
I have been fortunate enough to have met Joe a few times during his solo career and normally, I am able to talk to him just fine, but his reaction to me took me completely off guard and I didn't even know what to say. Such an unbelievable feeling. I introduced him to my cousin Danielle and she repeated it to him . He asked how I was doing and just making a bit of small talk, but I knew time was short (unfortunately), so I knew I better get the ball rolling.
Because of Joe being so loud when he saw me, he had gotten Jordan Knight's and Danny Wood's attention, so when I began telling Joe about the poem, both Jordan and Danny were kind of huddled around me, listening to the story behind it. I gave Joe his poem and he took it and winked. Jordan looked down at me, smiled and said, "hi." I said, "hi" (never once did I think of saying my name, but it was on the poem). I went to give him his poem and the poem hit his necklaces. They started swaying back and forth, I was so embarrassed. I put my hand on them, to make them stop and he patted my hand and said, "It's ok."
He took the poem and read it right there in front of me. Reading it right in front of me. Afterwards, he said "Awww, very sweet. Thank you so much and you are welcome" and he came down and gave me a very big hug. As I was hugging him, with my chin resting on his shoulder, I felt a tap on my hand. It was Joe. I looked over at him and he asked, "Have you given this to Donnie yet?" and I said yes I gave it to him before. That was a very weird moment for me... hugging Jordan, while having conversation with Joe. So funny. Danielle told him Donnie came down the line earlier and suddenly, there was Donnie's taunting voice, "She gave me my copy earlier" (as if to say "ha, I got it before you guys!"). After hugging Jordan, I asked if he would please give Jonathan his copy (Jordan and Jon are brothers) and he said he would.
I then looked at Danny, who was just smiling at me. He had such a sweet look on his face. He wanted to know the story behind the poem again, so I told him and he took the poem and read it right there. That is such an awesome feeling, I can't even put it into words to see that happening. As he was reading it, he kept saying "Awww, oh wow". When he was finished, he gave me a very big, but gentle hug and said "Thank you so much" and squeezed my hand. The look on his face was one of "I'm so sorry this has to be cut short". You and me both, Danny.
By this point, the security guard for Xcel was yelling "It's time to take a picture!" (which he was barking continuously throughout the meeting, but I was not about to have him or anyone take away this moment from me). So, Danielle grabbed my chair and I heard Joe and I say at the same time "Huh what? Where are we lookin'?" I found that funny. Danielle said it sounded like we were in stereo.
We posed for the picture, Danielle, me, Joe, Jordan, Karena, Danny, Donnie and Karena's cousin. Immediately afterwards, the security guard grabbed the front of the chair to move me, as the next and final group was to move in. I didn't have a chance to say goodbye to the guys and as Danielle started to walk away, I suddenly heard the beginning of my poem being read. I looked back and it was Joe. He was reading my poem out loud. He briefly looked up and caught my eyes, he gave me a look of "It was great to see you again" and a quick smile, and continued reading. Unfortunately, we could not stop. Our time was up.
(L to R: Danielle, me, Joe, Jordan, Karena, Danny, Donnie and Karena's cousin)
When we exited the building, since I was unable to have the guys autograph my copy of the poem, I gave it to Karena as a way of saying thank you. I wanted her to know why the moment that just happened, was so important and special to me.
About three hours later, Danielle, Margie, Lauri and I were "Hangin' Tough" at the Reunion concert. Such an amazing two hour show, filled with memories. All the fan favorites were performed, along with a nice mix of new songs and it was complete with little things that only true "Blockheads" would notice (such as dance moves, certain jackets, etc.). Also, we had amazing seats. We were in the handicapped area of section 117, which was technically like "row" 26. My pictures honestly do not capture the view or give it justice, because we were much closer than it appears. I was sitting next to Danielle and I felt like I was 14 years-old, all over again.
Throughout the show, Danielle and I would grab each other and sing to each other, just like we did in 1990 at our first NKOTB concert. This concert was also special because I didn't know Margie or Lauri 'back in the day,' so this was our first NKOTB concert together.
As I sit here, remembering every little detail, every touch, hug and smile, I know I have been truly blessed by the kindness of others and God's love. Never in a million years did I ever expect this to happen. I have finally been able to tell Joe, Jordan, Jon, Donnie and Danny "thank you for supporting UCP." It took 20 years to accomplish, but it happened.
God is good, life is wonderful and dreams can and do come true.
For more information about this story, visit the UCP profile on MySpace and send us a message or contact Will Hull at (202) 776-0406 x7106.
Here's a vintage clip
of NKOTB singing at a UCP telethon.
YouTube: NKOTB singing at UCP Telethon
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