Meeting The Ones We Admire
Another Joe Meeting
THE JOE MEETING
Since day one my best friend Katt and I fantasized about someday having
a chance to meet NkOTB. We lived in Western Kentucky and because their
days of touring were over, we never thought that it would become
anything more than a fantasy. That was until Katt decided to go to
school in Boston. I couldn't let my best friend move half way across
the country without me. We had been side by side for 10 years, so I
soon met up here with her and went back to school myself. After living
here for about a year, we decided to drive out to see where Joe lived.
We brought along another fan that we had met who had lived here her
whole life and had never met the guys. It was late...probably about
11pm and on a Saturday. We pulled over and waited for a little while,
but began to feel like idiots. We were just about to leave when a car
pulled up with two more fans in it. They said, "He's coming!" Sure
enough, Joe pulled into his driveway and stopped to look at the cars in
front of his house. He got out of the car and talked to us for a
little while. We took pictures and he gave us hugs. It was a great
Meeting Joe
Shadow's Story: It was Tuesday, August 12, 1997. My friends Jennifer, Sheila and I opted to take the T to Brookline to try to see Joseph. So, we got on the Green Line near the Pru,
switched trains at Park Street, and got off at Brookline Hills. So, we walked through the mini-parking lot there, towards Brookline High School. I soon discovered that I had no clue where I was....I HATE THAT....so, we decided to stop at the Brookline Pool to see if they could at least give us directions to Warren Street....not necessarily 215 Warren Street, mind you. Just plain
Warren Street. So, we walked inside, and went up to the friendly-looking lady that sat behind the front desk. Jen and Sheila left getting the directions up to me, so I said:"Excuse me, could you tell me please how I can get to Warren Street from here?" She started to tell me outright, but decided to just draw me a happy little map: "It's not too far from here. But, where on Warren Street? It's a really long street, you know." I hesitated in answering, and she smiled and said: "You just wanna find that New Kid on the Block's house, don't you?" Jen and Sheila laughed, and I joked back. "No, I don't, but they do!" I pointed to my friends. We all laughed. Then, she told us exactly how to get to Joe's, we bought some sodas, then left....walking uphill towards Bolyston Street. We crossed Boylston, and headed up Warren. We were almost to Joe's house, when I fell in a hole in the sidewalk. It was covered by a bunch of leaves and stuff, so I didn't see it.I was in so much pain, that I almost couldn't bear it. However, I finished walking--uh, I mean limping--up the hill, and collapsed on the first lawn that I saw. I looked up, saw the familiar white fence, and said "We're here! This is Joe's house." I was in process of taking my sock and sneaker off while Jen and Sheila crossed the street to stand on the little island and take photos of the house. After they had finished taking photos, they came back across the street, and, Jennifer got volunteered to go see if she could get some ice for my ankle from one of Joe's neighbors. She was gone for about ten minutes, but came back with a Baggie full of ice. We sat out in front of the fence--them on the sidewalk, me on the grass. About an hour or so went by, when these three other fans joined us. They were all from Maine. We all sat there talking for about another hour. Then, an ambulance stopped at the stop sign across the street from us, and joined the scads of other people that laughed and made fun of us as they drove by. Jennifer waved at them, and even pointed to my ankle, hoping that they would stop and help. But, instead, they just laughed and waved back. The EMT's inside the ambulance drove off laughing--and all because we were sitting out in front of Joe McIntyre's house. I was angry from that point on. They weren't the only ones to laugh and insult the six of us, either. Suddenly, the gates opened, and this woman drove her happy little car out of it. "Girls, you can't sit there. You have to move." She insisted, in a rather rude tone. She started telling us to cross the street and stand over there next to the wall, but all I could consentrate on was getting up. I was in so much pain, that Jen and Sheila had to help me limp across the street. And, that woman just sat there and watched me limp. She didn't drive off until I had plopped down on the ground, wincing in pain. I started to cry. My ice had begun to seriously melt, and Jen and I were debating on where to go get some more ice because we didn't wanna bother that same neighbor again. I was hoping against all hope that someone would stop and help, because I just couldn't walk one step further. Jen and I sat there, hardly talking, me complaining about the stupid EMT's that wouldn't stop for me. About a half hour later (around 7 pm), Joe pulled his Land Rover to a stop at the stop sign. I looked up at Sheila and Jen and said: "That's Joe. Guys, that is Joe." Joe was talking on his cell phone, and glanced over towards us--apparently to see if anyone was there. The gates opened, then, he drove into his driveway. The gates closed behind him. The Maine girls had made their way back from a quick walk by this time, and Jen met them as they came up the hill, threatening:"If you scream, I'll kill you." The older one replied, excitedly: "Is he there? Is he there?" To which, Jennifer replied:"Yes, he's in the driveway, talking on the phone. And, if you scream, I'll kill you." They all came back over to where Sheila and I sat. I was still whining and preaching about all the stupid people that kept driving by and insulting us. Jen came up with the idea to go ask Joe for a new bag of ice for my ankle because the other one had long melted. So Jen ran across the street and stood in his driveway, waiting for him to get off the phone, trying not to eavesdrop. I started to preach again about the mangy EMT's that wouldn't stop, well, that, and I was in pain. Jen had given me some aspirin, but it wasn't helping. The girls from Maine started to get excited and flip out. I threatened them, so did Sheila by saying:"If you make Joe go away, I'll kill you." Anyway, they got their cameras and a video camera out, waiting for Joe. Joe, on the other hand, still sat in his Land Rover--with the motor on--getting comfy. He had his left foot propped up out of the window of the Land Rover--still talking on the phone. I was sitting on the ground, still moaning and complaining. In fact, I was preaching so loud that Joe had to scream into his phone:"I understand that, but-" When the Maine girls heard his voice, they REALLY started to freak. I got quieter, because he'd obviously heard me--OOPS. Jennifer still stood over by the gate, her fingers in her ears, trying not to hear his conversation. After a little, the older Maine girl went over across the street to stand next to Jen. Jen turned to her, sensing that the girl was about to have a fit, and said:"Don't you dare freak on me! Don't you dare freak on me! Don't you dare freak on me!" The girl replied:"I won't..I'm not..It's just...when he comes out, could you ask him to come out and talk to us?" LIKE JOE WOULD REALLY NOT COME OUT! Anyway, Jen
said "Fine. Just get back over there." A few minutes later, the other two Maine girls went across the street, went over to the
gate, and started peering through the slats in the top of the gate. Jen wasn't happy about that, so she scolded:"Guys, how would you like it if someone was spying on you when you were on the phone?" One of them replied, in a snappy tone:"I wouldn't
care." Then, the two girls came back across the street. I had completely stopped preaching, and Sheila got really quiet; trying
not to cry. Not long after that, Joe got off the phone, shut off the engine, got out, and closed the door. Jen spoke his name, to
see if she could get his attention. Then, the gates started to open, and Joe and Jen started to walk towards each other. Joe
spoke first: "I'll be right over there in a second." "Actually, Joe," Jen replied "I'm sorry to disturb you, but my friend twisted her ankle, and I was wondering if we could get a bag of ice from you." "Oh?" Joe smiled a little "A bag of ice, that's all you want?" "Yeah, that's all I want." Jen answered, as they started to cross the street. The Maine girls started freaking more. Jen followed Joe across the street. It was a good thing that Joe looked before crossing, because Jen didn't bother. "So, that's all you want, a bag of ice?" Joe asked Jen again. "Yeah," Jen nodded. "That's all I want." Joe got across the street first, and I immediately noticed that he looked really tired. No one said anything to him, so I spouted off: "Hiya Joe!" "Hi." He smiled back, looking down at me. "That's all you want, a bag of ice?" "Yeah," I nearly laughed, then nodded. All three Maine girls chirped together:"No! No! Can we have your autograph?" The older Maine girl, by this point, had remembered that she had a
videocamera, and she asked Joe if she could record him. "Thanks for asking," Joe smiled a bit "but, no. I don't like
videocameras." Joe set to signing their menangerie of belongings, when he looked over his shoulder, down at me. "What
happened to you?" he asked, as his hand automatically wrote:"Love Joe McIntyre." "Well, I was the tour guide," My Bostonian
accent was overly obvious "And, I fell in a hole on the way up here." Joe looked at me, with a puzzled look. "You fell in a
hole?" I nodded, and Jen repeated:" Yeah, she fell in a hole and twisted her ankle. Joe smirked, but said nothing. Then, one of
the Maine girls said to Joe:"You don't believe her, do you, Joe?" I immediately became insulted. Jennifer quipped:"Don't be
rude" as I grabbed a stick and threw it at the girl. Joe was taken aback, a bit shocked that the girl had said that. But, he
recovered quickly, taking photos with the girls, and giving them hugs. Two of them wanted a photo with Joe, and they asked
him if he wouldn't mind. "No. Oh, good, I hate taking pictures alone." Joe smiled, remaining perfectly posed until after the flash went off. It was at some point in between taking photos and signing autographs that Joe asked me where I got the bag of ice
that was on my ankle. Jen told him where she got it, and Joe made a mental note. It was then that Sheila walked up to him and
asked if she could have a hug. "Sure," he smiled, hugged her, then looked around "Who's gonna take the picture?" I said that I
would, but Sheila handed the camera to Jen. Sheila posed next to Joe--the whole time, Sheila kept looking at me. Jen tried to
get her attention, and finally succeeded by saying:"Sheila, hon, look at me, not at Shadow." Jen took the photo, then
commented, looking at Joe:"Man, he's got that posing thing down pat! He didn't even move!" Joe grinned, then turned to sign
more stuff for the Maine girls. Sheila came back over by me to get her NKOTB poster out of her backpack. As she did this,
the Maine girls decided that they all three wanted a photo with Joe, and asked which one of us wanted to take it. "I'll take it." I spoke without thinking "I have a good view from down here." Then I took the photo. Jen had to walk away, laughing, and Joe
smirked. I found out later that my little comment was taken quite sexually, instead of genuinely. Oops! Afterwards, Sheila went
back up to Joe: "Will you sign this, Joe?" She spoke softly. "Sure!" Joe smiled, then opened up the (quad-fold) poster to look
at. It was a photo from overseas, 1994. "Man, I look tough here." he smiled, then re-folded the poster, and asked who it was
to. "Sheila." she spoke with a DEEP Southern, Kentucky accent. "Shayla?" Joe questioned, unsure. "No, SHEILA." Jen butted
in:"You'll have to forgive her, she's from Kentucky." Joe smiled, his attention never leaving Sheila. "Sheila?" he asked,then
spelled it out loud to make sure he'd gotten it right. Sheila nodded, and I interjected: "Hey,he's the first person to spell your name right!" Joe grinned, and spoke aloud as he signed: "Sheila. Love & More. Love, Joe McIntyre." Sheila thanked him
"Sure." he replied, eyeing her up and down. Jen came over beside me to get her notebook out of my backpack, then walked
back over to Joe. Sheila put her poster back in her backpack, and I asked her if she would ask him to sign mine. So, she
grabbed my posters, and waited for another chance to sneak in close to Joe. It was then that Joe asked where everyone was
from (since he'd already found out Sheila was from Kentucky). The girls replied "Maine." Joe didn't need to ask me, I suppose,
because it was obvious from my accent where I'm from. *laugh* Then, Jennifer said: "I bet you can't guess where I'm from."
Joe was in the middle of signing something else for the Maine girls: "Uh, I don't know. California?" Jennifer laughed. "No, I'm
from Texas." "So, you're proud that you don't have that accent?" Joe teased. "Yep, sure am." Jen smiled, joking. He put the
cap back on the marker, and started to hand it back to Jennifer, until Sheila walked up to him with my posters. She handed him
a small pullout, in which he was wearing a dark green shirt. He looked at it, and shook his head, speaking aloud as he signed:
"I'm tired here" he drew an arrow towards his face in the poster "Love, Joe McIntyre." (that poster went to Sheila's sister!) He
handed that poster back to Sheila, and she handed him another poster. This one was a quad fold. He's wearing a red shirt, jean
shorts, and is sitting on a bunch of rocks. He opened it up to look at it, and asked who it was to. "Me," I answered, trying to
smile "What's your name?" "Shadow." I replied, then winced in pain "Shadow? As in a 'shadow'?" Joe asked, and I nodded.
"Ok, then. To Shadow:' he spoke aloud again. "Ya know, that's my fave poster of you, Joe." He stopped signing. "Really?"
"Yeah, for real." The look he gave me made it clear to me that he didn't like that picture of himself. Then, he finished
signing:"Love Joe McIntyre." Then, he handed the poster down to me (I still sat on the ground). One of the girls came over to
ask me if I had a piece of paper. Then, it was finally Jennifer's turn! "Oh, now you get to sign a postcard." she smiled, handing
Joe a postcard of Boston. He took it, then asked"Who's it to?" "Farial." Jennifer replied, then spelled the name for him. "Farial? Shadow? You guys have some strange names here." Joe remarked. It was obvious that he was getting even more tired. "Oh, it's not for me." Jen quipped "it's for my friend. I already have your autograph." Joe looked at Jennifer funny, then started to sign the postcard. He gets to the "Far" part, then stops. "F-A-R what?" "F-A-R-I-A-L" Jen spelled it for him again. A cardrove by, and reminded Jen of what had happened to us earlier. "You know, Joe. You have some really rude neighbors here." Joe
became concerned. "Which ones? Where? What house? The ones you got the ice from?" Jen shook her head "No, the ones
that drive by insulting us, telling us that we should get a life." Joe grinned, then replied "Well, maybe you should." "JOE!" Jen could tell he was kidding, she just barely grazed Joe's arm with her little notebook. Joe chuckled. So, he finished signing, then handed the card back to Jen. Jen leaned down to put it back into my backpack, when I spoke: "Hey, will someone help me up
so that I can get a photo with Joe?" I figured I deserved at least one more happy momento. *laugh* Jen joked "Well, Joe's the
strongest one here. Have him help you up." Joe laughed as he was signing yet MORE stuff for the Maine girls. I gave Jen an evil
look as Sheila helped me up, and I leaned back against the wall. While Joe was in the middle of signing for the Maine girls, a
woman drove by and stopped. "Excuse me," she began, taking us all by suprise, " can anyone tell me how to get to Newbury
College?" Joe turned around to give her directions. He smiled at her "Newbury College?" "Yeah." she replied I think that if I
had a choice, I wouldn't ask Joe McIntyre for directions. I get confused too easily. Joseph's reply was: "Okay, if you could go
down here (he pointed down Cottage Street) it would be right at the end of the street right there. But, you can't go down that
way. So, you can go this way (points down Warren Street), and just stay left. Anytime you can turn left, just go left. Just keep making lefts and it will be right there. You can't miss it." I think that the lady was a little confused, but she said: "Ok. Thanks." "No problem," Joe smiled again. There were four cars stopped behind the lady, and they were honking their horns. Then lady then drove on, but for some reason (ha ha ha) the car directly behind her did not. So, the other three cars started honking even more. Joe took it upon himself to start directing traffic at this point by waving his left arm, urging them on as if to say "Ok, move along. Nothing more to see here." So, they started driving down Warren Street, following the lady. Another car drove by, going the opposite way, and screamed rather loudly and rudely at us. And, do you know what? Joe was the one that screamed back. We felt like Joe had defended us. That one instant made up for all of the rude comments we had heard earlier. After that, Joe came around to stand beside me. He looked at me first, I suppose to judge where he could stand, then opted to stand on my left side to take the photo. Jen snapped it. Joe smiled at me, and I joked. "Hey, can I still have that bag of ice?" "Uh....no." He laughed a little, then helped me sit back down on the ground. Nice guy. "Ahh, Joe!"I feigned anger. "Well, I can't help it."Joe
smiled, then went back over to where he had been standing. One of the girls asked:" Joe, will you sign my shirt?" Joe smirked
"Yeah, sure, the back of it."He turned her around, and the rest of us had to laugh. Joe handed Jen the marker, then walked
back over to me. "Are you sure you're gonna be ok?" "No," I managed to tease "I bag of ice would help." He laughed. "I'm
sorry. You want me to call you a cab?" I SHOULD HAVE SAID YES! "No, thanks, Joe. Those girls have a van, and they
said they'd drive us to the T." "Aww, well that's nice. Well, I hope that you feel better." In that instant, I think that I did.
"Thanks, Joe." Joe smiled down at me, then started to walk away, crossing the street. "Hey," Jen followed him again "don't
forget about that bag of ice." Joe pushed the button to open his gate "Hey, you can buy a bag of ice for a dollar at the store
down there." he pointed up Warren Street (towards Bolyston St.) We never did find that store! Anyway, Jen reached into her
back pocket, finding the dollar she knew was there "How about I give you a dollar, you give me the ice." Joe stepped just
inside the gate "I don't have any ice. I haven't even been in my kitchen in like a year." Jen said nothing, as the gates started to close, and Joe went inside. I almost started to cry as I watched him open his door then go in. But, the Maine girls went and got their van, came back to pick Jen, Sheila and me up, then dropped us off at the T. I have to say that half hour he spent with us truly made my day. You know something, my ankle still hurts quite often.The doctor said that I did have a hairline fracture. Leave it to me to break something for Joseph! But, in the end, it was all worth it to see everyone happy....and to get the rare chance to spend some time with someone I truly admire...moreso now than ever before. Thanks, Joe, for everything. You'll never know how much seeing you that day meant to me.
Ashley's Story: I was in Boston for a week over New Year's 97/98. I was visiting friends that I used to work with at Disney World. The guy I was supposed to stay with got sick and had to go to the hospital the day after I got there, so the week didn't start out too hot. I knew that if I didn't see Joe while I was there, the week would have been a waste of time and money. My two other friends weren't due to come to Boston until Saturday, so Friday (Jan. 2nd), I was left alone. I met some random guys on the "T" and went to lunch with them at the Hard Rock Cafe that afternoon. The weather was warmer that day, so after lunch, I decided to take a walk. I walked about 2.5 miles to Joe's house. I didn't know what I was going to do once I got there, but I kept walking anyway. By the time I got there, it was dark out. I sat down on the wall across from his house and stared at it. I couldn't believe I was sitting outside Joe McIntyre's house! I didn't even have time to watch for him before his car was right in front of me. I didn't know it was him for sure, but I guessed it was. I started to slide off of the wall. I guess he saw me through his side mirror or something, because his window started to come down. That's when I knew it was him. I walked up to the window. "Hi! How are you?" We seemed to say at the same time. "What's your name?" Joe asked me. "Ashley", I replied with a shaky voice. "Nice to meet you, " Joe said. After looking around, ''We don't have anyone to take a picture." Then Joe backed up his car and got out. "You dropped a glove, "Joe said. I did a little spin move, then spotted my glove and picked it up. Joe said he almost didn't see me. I said he had good timing, because I had just gotten there. I told him that I was visiting friends from Disney and we talked about that for a few minutes. He asked me if I had ever been there(Boston) before. I said that I had made my parents stop once on the way back from Vermont in 1990. He laughed. Then, Joe took my camera and held it out in front of us and took a picture. The camera started to rewind in his hand, so I reloaded another roll of film. I told him that I had planned on coming in a few days with my friend with a car, but that I couldn't wait that long. He suggested we take another picture like the first, so we did. "I'm interested in seeing how far away this looks through the camera," Joe said, taking the camera from me. "Stand over there and smile!" Joe took a picture of me, then I took one of him by himself. After another minute of chatting, Joe tried to explain another way that I could walk back to the BC area. I had no idea what he was saying. I was just staring at him, nodding and smiling. Then, he said he'd see me in a few days, I told him HAPPY BIRTHDAY, then I started to walk off. About 30 seconds later, I hear, "Hey!" I turn to my right and there is Joe in his car again. "I'll drive you." I about had a heart attack, but I didn't show it. I ran across the street and jumped in the passenger seat of his black Lincoln Navigator. I thanked him. He said that he saw me walk off and couldn't let me walk in the dark alone. I was about to die. I played stupid and asked what kind of car it was. He told me. It had a tan leather interior--very nice. He was drinking coffee. I asked him where I should go dancing that night, trying to find out if he would be going anywhere. He replied, "New York." I told him that I was from Kentucky, so anything fairly large would be cool for me! He suggested AXIS, and DAD'S DINER on Boylston st. He said that was where the "quote on quote beautiful people hang out". I told him that I loved big cities, but I had never been to New York. He talked about how he loves New York, but doesn't really like LA. Then he mentioned something about the Celtics stealing our
basketball coach (Rick Pitino). That's sort of a sore subject around KY basketball fans. The b-ball players are our only local
celebs. I also mentioned that I went to high school with Brian from the Backstreet Boys. He said, "Oh yeah, I knew two of
them were from Kentucky." By this time, we arrived at the "T" where he dropped me off. I said something about how my mom
was going to be so excited that I got to meet him, and he said she would probably never believe me that he drove me home. I
agreed. I thanked him again and got out of the car. He did a U turn and waved as he drove back by. I don't think the whole
thing had actually hit me yet. I was still so calm. The next day, I took my film to CVS One Hour--the picture turned out
GREAT! I was so excited. Then, the day I went home, my friend Julie and I went back. We had to wait an hour this time, but
he drove up again. I gave him a copy of our picture and got his autograph this time. Then I left. As the plane took off from
Boston that evening, I actually got tears in my eyes because I was leaving Joe. But it was the best week of my entire life!!
Meeting the Posse 30!
Home