You Got The Right Stuff

If you grew up in the late 80s / early 90s then any time you hear “you got the right stuff”, you immediately break out in oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, the right stuff….a rather well known song by New Kids on the Block (or NKOTB).  Am I completely dating myself right now?!

I grew up a HUGE NKOTB fan – my room was covered floor to ceiling NKOTB posters.  JoeyMac was going to be my future husband.  I knew all the dance moves.  I owned NKOTB sheets, shirts, toys, and games.  I was a super fan along with most other females born in the seventies / early eighties.

Imagine my surprise when 9ish years ago, my oldest cousin (the one we all credit for our childhood NKOTB hysteria) mentions that our fav 5 guys released a new album and were going on tour.  Oh happy day!

Two tours later, our same cousin mentions that NKOTB has a yearly cruise (what the what?!).  Fans get to spend 4 glorious days and nights with our childhood crushes.  Seriously…had we been hiding under a rock?! (Btw, the fact that we were not aware of this really makes me question our fandom).

All this leads me to this week…NKOTB announced Cruise 2017 (or cruise 9).  In blockhead world…the cruise announcement is eagerly awaited.  And once the announcement comes out, you have basically 48 hours to get your roommates together and figure out what cabin “category” you want to try and go for (really it’s how much you want to spend).  As a cruise virgin, you know none of this.  This would explain why we missed out on the cruise in 2014.  We couldn’t get our act together quick enough (and when I say quick, I’m talking in terms of minutes). To say it’s a process is an understatement.

But, we made it on in 2015, and again in 2016.  And I’m happy to report, that as my cabin’s designated person to get us on that damn ship, I got us on that damn ship.  About had a heart attack trying to secure our category and deck, but I did it.  Yippee!!

So what’s so special about this cruise?  For starters, you get to live the ultimate dream of your ten year old self – with only 3,000 blockheads on the ship, the amount of time and closeness you get with the guys is insane (as you can tell by the selfies).  The days are long, but the night are longer.  Each night the cruise features a “theme night” where everyone dresses up and there is a deck party.  These parties start around midnight and go until about 6ish every morning.  (Did I mention the nights are long?!).  If you are lucky, you may get invited to Donnie’s after parties, in which case you are likely going to “bed” around 8ish.  You basically survive on “naps” for five days.  But my gosh, when I tell you it’s the best time of your life, believe me, it’s the best time of you life.  The cruise, hands down, is one of the highlights of my year.  In the words of Donnie, we bring happy back.

What are some things from your childhood that bring happiness?

P.S. – I took the liberty to add some additional photos for blockheads like me!