My friends and I got back from the March 28th Backstreet Boys concert in Chicago just a few hours ago and we had the most wonderful time!! AND... guess who came to the opera box beside ours and visited with us? Alexander James McLean!! Yes, ladies and gents, he was sitting there with Marcus having a smoke, and my friends and I turned around, wondering who he was at first coz he was wearing a knit cap and had his back turned to us. My brother suspected it was AJ, but I was skeptical.

When I took a closer look and saw his black bracelets and his tats, I bravely went over and said, "Is that Mr. McLean?" He looked at me, smiled and said, "It is." Well, I kept my cool and FINALLY got to tell him how proud I am of him and how I prayed for him through his recovery from his addictions. I also told him how happy we all are that BSB has come back to us at last. Folks, the man was so grateful and so sweet. *sigh* He said thank you and of course, I asked for a hug. Mmmm, an AJ hug!! (Actually, I got two hugs before we parted!) No, I'm not leaving Howie, who is truly my favorite BSB, but since I have a family situation with alcoholism and drug addiction, I know what AJ went through and I know it wasn't easy for him.

We talked briefly and I told him again how thrilled we are that they are back together, how we had watched him and Denise on Oprah and were overjoyed that the other Boys surprised him on air. He admitted to me that he did NOT know the other Boys were coming, and he confirmed that it was the Oprah reunion that finalized their plans for a come back! (Thank you, Oprah!!) It was a total surprise to him that they were all there, although he told me he kind of suspected that Kevin would come coz he was the one who gave him the final push before he went to rehab. (Yeah, baby..he did!!) While we were with AJ, I mentioned that I have a friend/BSB sister that had just met him and the other guys in Philly and I brought along the picture she had taken with them. (I promised her I would give it to him if we met.)

When I handed it to AJ, he remembered her immediately! He also remembered my BSB/brother Tim from the Nashville Golf tournament for HHC and they had a chance to talk again and share a hug. I told AJ that it was because of BSB that all of us met in the first place, and have become an extended family. I said I know he hears that kind of thing from fans all the time and he said, "Yes, I hear it all the time, but I LOVE to hear it! I never get tired of hearing it!" It was a glorious encounter and something that I have prayed for...to tell him my feelings and let him know I will continue to pray for him always. He was so gracious and he DOES give AWESOME hugs! (I think I said that already, but it bears repeating!! ) I also kissed his cheek and one of the skull tats on his neck!! *THUD* (Well, I missed his cheek the second kiss!! LOL! Yes, girls...his skin is VERRRRY SOFT!!)

The show itself was absolutely incredible!! Nearly two hours of BSB songs, old and new and their voices sounded better than ever before, even though they are all currently sick with colds. *awwww!* AJ informed us of that fact when we talked with him, but we already knew that Kevin was sick from friends in Philly. (Hmm, Kevin must've decided to share his misery with the others! LOL!) Still, the Backstreet Boys are ALL real troupers and they gave one of the best shows I've ever seen them do!! I will never forget it. They interacted a lot with the audience and each other, and while Nick danced on the speakers a bit and reached out to shake hands with a few fans, AJ sprayed everyone in the first few rows with water!! They loved it of course!!

They did most of the "Chapter One" CD, several songs from "Black and Blue" and "Millennium" and they also did a few of their new songs. "Poster Girl", "Weird World", "I Still", "My Beautiful Woman", "Shout" and of course, "Incomplete" which they teased everyone about coz they KNOW it leaked out on the Internet! LOL! They did do a bit of the old dance and hat routines when they sang "All I Have To Give" and "Everybody", but I think the most exciting and meaningful song was the final one.... "Everybody, Backstreet's Back"!! THAT brought down the house! They changed the arrangements a bit on a few things...sort of as an update, but it was pure BSB, with ALL of the love they ALWAYS pour out to their fans... and even more! These five incredible men LOVE their fans dearly, and it DEFINITELY shows!! Each BSB individually made a point of thanking the fans here in Chicago, coz it was here, at the Oprah studios, where Backstreet really came back! And we in Chicago are very pleased to know that!!

In closing, I would just like to say that if you're going to one of the upcoming BSB concerts, you are in for an amazing time! If you've been already, you are still glowing, as I am!! As a very PROUD 48 year old BSB fan, I suddenly feel like a twenty year old again...and it feels so good! BACKSTREET'S BACK, ALL RIGHT!! Howie hugs and much love to all of you!!