R.E.S.P.E.C.T.
I saw Hanson today in Wichita, and yesterday in Kansas City. Tonight in Wichita I got their autographs, and met their dad and sister. I also talked to Ashley again. You can read all about it, and see pictures of them in "My Hanson Concert Experiences" page link on the home page.
Seeing Hanson changed something in me. I always thought when I saw them that I would be so hyper and it would just be this huge magical moment. But they're normal people, and this never really hit home with me until I saw them in person. I've seen them in concert before--3 times in fact before I met them--but it never hit me until I got their autographs that it's so silly to think of them as anything but normal people. I mean, now I can't imagine myself screaming or crying if I see them live again. I like their music, and hearing them perform live is very exciting, but they themselves are totally normal people who just happen to make really great music. So now if I meet them or get their autographs again, I know that I will feel completely calm and normal inside beside they are just people! lol! It even seems silly to me now to think of jumping up and down or anything when I see them on TV. I will admit that 3 years ago I would have felt totally differently about this, and whenever I saw them on TV I would squeal and jump around the living room. But it's not like that anymore. The MUSIC excites me, not the presence of the band. I am not saying in any way that I don't think that the people behind the music aren't cool. I think they are very cool! Of course I don't really know them all that well, so I can't say for sure, but they seemed very nice in Wichita. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I feel like less of a fan of them, and more of a fan of the music. That does not mean I wouldn't like an opportunity to get to know them better, because I would definitely be up for that, but I could say that about anyone. I would like to get to know anyone better to see if they could be a cool friend.
Things are just different now with me. I love HANSON. But I don't LOVE them. You know? I mean, I'm not kissing posters--nor do I even have any posters up in my room--before I go to sleep at night.(I've never done this, by the way!) I'm not dreaming of marrying one of them. I'm not writing them love letters, or hoping to just touch their hands one day. That seems silly to me now. Touching their hands is just like touching anyone else's hand. You know? I know some people would now consider me not a real fan because I'm not secretly harboring fantasies of eloping with Ike, Tay, or Zac, but that's OK. I would rather not be in that category. I'm happy to be a fan of the music, and not a fan of marrying one of them. I mean absolutely NO disrespect to people who do think that either Ike, Tay, or Zac is their soul mate. That could very well be! I have no idea who anyone's soul mate is. I just know that for me, it's not like that. I respect them as musicians and as talented, cool people. That's it. That's as far as it goes. I will definitely be the first to admit it hasn't always been like this! Like I said, when I first became a fan over 3 years ago it was all very different. But I hadn't even seen them in person, and I didn't really know what they were like. Not that I do now, either, it's just that seeing them made me realize how silly it was to feel anything but love for the music. So I guess you could say I have evolved as a fan. =) I'm a different type of fan now. I don't think it makes me any less of a fan, just a different type of a fan.
I titled this entry RESPECT for several reasons. One is because in Kansas City yesterday (the 21st) Tay sang that song on the radio interview for 95.7 and I loved it! Also, because I know that I definitely have a lot more respect now for Hanson. My respect goes farther than it ever has. I have a new found respect for their privacy that I never even knew I didn't have before. I have respect for them as people and musicians. I have respect for their family, and their privacy. I have respect for the band. And I have enough respect for myself not to spend all my time wondering if Ike (or Tay or Zac) will ever marry me.
"Just a little bit of respect..."
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