BoomerGirl Diary

Lois: Paul McCartney released his new album last week, "Memory Almost Full," just a few days before his 65th birthday. As always, a great album with a message. It isn’t my impression that he intends this to be his swan song, but my interpretation is that these are words he needs to say, just in case.

In 1964, like many young girls my age, I was in love with the Beatles. They blew onto the music, rock, and teen scenes with a force that possibly only Elvis Presley had ever or since experienced. Also like most other girls, I was in love with Paul. He had it all — so dreamy. I’ve told this story many times, but it bears repeating.

After sleeping with his Beatles’ cards under my pillow for months, I decided it was time to act. I wrote Paul the greatest love letter a 12 year old can write. It wasn’t too mushy or desperate, just right. However, I did include one very practical request. "Could you please wait nine years to get married, until I‘m 21?" Even at 12, I knew you should be at least 21 to get married. Cleverly, I mailed it to his father in Liverpool knowing he would surely get it then.

I suppose the fascination just gradually faded away, but I always remained a faithful fan, even after the breakup.

Nine years later, on the occasion of my 21 birthday, my then boyfriend took me to a beef-n-beer type restaurant to celebrate. There was a television behind the bar and I was not paying attention, but just in earshot I heard, "Something, something, Paul McCartney … married … earlier today …"

My head snapped up, "WHAT? WHAT? Which part of that letter didn’t you understand? You were supposed to wait nine years for ME. To marry ME !!"

I was distraught. He married Linda. She was really cool, and they had been together forever. I could respect that. That prospect gone, life went on and several years later, I got married.

They lived happily for a long time together, and I was sad when cancer stole Linda away from Paul, her family and her life. Married with a family of my own, I felt the depth of a life lost so young. I often think of her in those serious moments when you realize your mortality and that all the money in the world can’t buy your health.

Years later, I still remember those tender young years and, in as much as every other girl was in love with Paul, I think of my not-so-secret crush. Now, I believe I win this contest hands down, but who were your teen age rock star crushes?

In the meantime, I want Paul to know that I’m still interested, but I’m not single right now. Life can change on a dime. Perhaps in nine years — when I’M sixty four!

Jackie, 18: I was born in the late-1980s and grew up listening to whatever my two older sisters were listening to, like Dave Matthews Band, Alanis Morisette and Fleetwood Mac. Well, among those varieties of music that my sisters enjoyed I learned that I had to find the group, person or band that I liked. About 10 years ago there were two huge boy bands that all 8-12 year old girls fawned over: N*SYNC and The Backstreet Boys.

Of course every girl liked them both because of their talent and that they were obviously good-looking boys. I saw a music video for "Tearin’ up my Heart" by N*SYNC and absolutely fell head over heels for the groups youngest member, Justin Timberlake. I mean, WOW was he cute. I knew that I never had a chance, but I thought if I could just see him in person I would be in total bliss.

Well, I finally got my chance because for my 12th birthday my mom had gotten us tickets to see N*SYNC in concert. I was so excited I couldn’t contain myself. We got there and were seventeen rows away from the stage! Justin was right in front of me as I sang along with him and the guys. It was a great concert and still remains one of the best I’ve ever seen. Justin Timberlake is still a celebrity crush of mine and probably for many other girls too. As long as he finds happiness, even though I wish it were with me, that’s all that matters.

By the way, I just found a huge poster of him that I had when I was younger. The poster was tucked safely under my bed. I’m thinking about hanging it back up again!

Chrystin, 29: I am of the NKOTB generation. If you don’t know what NKOTB stands for, you are clearly not from that generation. It’s the New Kids On The Block, of course!

In the late-‘80s when they arrived on the music scene, they were the first, the original “boy band.” I was about 11 or so when I they had their first hit and I really liked the bubble gum, tap your foot to the beat sound. To me they were definitely “Hanging Tough.” I was too young to remember the previous waves of boy bands like New Edition, so for me this was a new sound that had five (yes, count them five) hotties to choose from — Donnie, Jordan, Jonathan, Joey and Danny. What preteen wouldn’t love that?!

For me, my crush and future husband was Donnie Wahlberg. He had “The Right Stuff.” “Step by Step” Donnie worked his way into my heart with his rough around the edges, tough guy appearance.

Still to this day, I think he’s hot. He really blew my mind! Did you see him in "Band of Brothers"? Talk about a man in uniform.

Laura, 25: So, I don’t know what this says about me, but within the last year, I’ve developed a major crush on Justin Timberlake. That’s the same man my 18-year-old baby sister has crushed on since she was 10. Jackie, if you’re not hanging that poster up, send it my way! And, by the way, I can’t believe it’s been ten years since N*Sync and Backstreet hit the airwaves. Wow.

Over the years, I’ve had fleeting crushes, and I think JT falls into that category. Like Jared Leto, when he played Jordan Catalano in the short-lived, but much-loved “My So-Called Life,” and Paul Walker, when the teen movies became really big in the mid-1990s. Remember how cute he was in “She’s All That”? But these men are famous for their talents and good looks and will all eventually fall out of the limelight. I know that will never happen with my first and only true heartthrob, Prince William.

Though I’m roughly six months his senior, I always knew that wouldn’t matter to him. Blessed with Diana’s looks, and cursed with her longing for privacy, William’s back in the news now as we near the 10th anniversary of his mother’s death. I hear people dissing him — saying Harry’s becoming the “cute one” and William’s starting to favor his father’s looks. These critics clearly have no devotion.

Recently, as I got engaged and married in the past two years, like Mom with Linda, I accepted he would likely marry Kate Middleton. (Though maybe I secretly had fantasies that he would show up and object at my wedding.) Kate seems sweet, pretty and supportive. I believe Diana would have liked her. But they broke up. Now, like Mom and Paul, William’s single again and I’m unavailable.