To start things off with, an explanation of the main reason for this section of my page...
My cousin and I used to be (this was in 1999/2000) in great arguments of whether BSB or 'N Sync were better (you know what I have to say...). Now she doesn't even like them anymore (drastic change that happened in about a month or so). Since she's overcome this "obsession," she finds it necessary to say things to tease me, like "you are *still* into them?" and such, then mentions that "I've moved from pop to rap/hard rock" Well, good for her. Maybe she didn't have so much at stake in 'N Sync as I do in Backstreet.

I guess maybe at first I was obsessed, but now that has truly passed, life goes on (tho i have some ephemeral bursts of obsession for certain things...concerts, CDs, LOL). When I first started listening to these guys, it was at one of the most hard times of my life and was a way to make it all seem better. The ppl @ school treated me like a total outcast for who-knows-why. I came home in tears a couple times over my 7th and 8th grade years; I just got teased because i was shy, or i was smart, or I was athletic and i played (and was decent @) violin...things that just don't go together in the eyes of a lot of people in my class [I elect to translate that as *jealousy*]. Even though I had my group of friends, it was tough for me to ever feel like I mattered for anything, but just plugging into their CD's was enough for me to feel better from the way I felt with things at school. I honestly do not jest at how bad this was, it was terrible and its part of the reason why I disliked middle school so much. It's almost like these guys were with me through those times and that is soooo cliche I can't believe I said it! I still come home and listen to these guys if days go bad, or just everyday just because it makes me happy.

Now it's been a few years, I am in college [and missing my buddies soooo much!] and how much has my life changed! Friendships have grown closer, and truer; my true friends all respect me for who I am, although after another year away it's becoming strained as we are all growing in different ways...I have changed myself a little bit, less shy and able to concentrate on my personal best in sports and school at the same time (i miss orchestra :-( grr not having enough time in the week). And my obsession has gone away (4 the most pt!), but my admiration most definitely has not. The Backstreet Boys, their music mostly, has so much meaning to me that I can not leave them behind. I luv these guys!

So I say this to people who *ARE* those making fun of people because of reasons like personality, intelligence , even friends who you hang out with, etc. , and I mean serious teasing with the intent of insulting: Just don't make fun of these people. Even if their opinions of (?whatever?) mean different to them than you and you don't understand...sometimes little things like a music group, or singer, or something like that means an awful more than it appears and is MUCH more personal than you think, like this is to me. (While we are here...don't say things lightly either, because they can be taken harder than meant and you do not realize how much it HURTS the person being spoken to...)

And to ALL of those who understand what I rambled discursively trying to say...remember that Fanz R 4ever :-)