July 17, 2012

 

This meeting took place many years ago. Sept. 24, 1998. I remember every little detail about that day. And the events leading up to it.



I heard on the radio, z100, about a contest with Twix to meet 'N Sync at the World Trade Center. I entered online and told my friend Debbie to enter as well. As the two of us only became friends because we both wanted to win tickets to meet 'N Sync about a year earlier. (we never won them).  So she entered this Twix contest too.



Fast forward a few months later and I'm taking a nap on my parents living room couch (a habit I would further develop in college) when my mother tells me Debbie's on the phone. I pick up and she says excitedly, 'I won.' I had no clue what she was talking about. She explained that she had won the Twix contest and was going to New York City for a chance to meet 'N Sync. As there was only a 50/50 chance that we'd actually meet them. Luckily, I wasn't too old, as the cutoff to attend this party was 18 and I am a year older than Debbie. I was 17 at the time. She gave me the paperwork to get notarized at the bank and she quickly returned everything so that we could attend this Twix party and possibly meet 'N Sync.



I remember when the day arrived, I took the bus home with her from school and we waited for her mother to get home from work. As we waited, we both watch 'N Sync on TRL, knowing and hoping that we would meet them in just a few short hours.



Her mother showed up with her friends and we started the long drive into the city. It was rush hour and we both thought we were going to miss the party. On the way there, her mother and her mother's friends discussed that they were going to Jekyll and Hyde for dinner and it was on Christopher Street. The ride was very, very long (or so it seemed to us eager teens waiting to meet our idols).



Once arriving at the World Trade Center, we were ushered into a room, where they had some video games, a DJ, some photographer and lots and lots of Twix. We had some Twix bars and pigs in a blanket for dinner. After a brief speech, those running the event explained that the actual winner of the contest was to choose a Twix bar out of a bowl. We would then be escorted in to two separate rooms based on the color of the sticker on the back of the bar. We got green and were ushered into another room. In that room, were two girls also from our high school.

Small world. Once we were all settled into that room, someone revealed a sign that said, 'Congratulations! You've won a private concert and meet and greet with 'N Sync on the Windows on the World.' We all screamed. We hugged. Some cried. Then we waited on a long to get into the elevator. We were toward the end of the line, which was fine by me. After waiting some more, we went to the 106th floor of the WTC and met 'N Sync.



Chris Kirkpatrick was on my right side and Justin Timberlake was on my left. They both touched me. I believe after the picture we took, we shook all their hands, but it went by so fast. Since we were last, we weren't in front for the private concert. But we still had a great view, as there were only 100 people at this show. They sang I think, three or four songs.



After the song, they were whisked off stage by security. I did manage to throw a letter on stage before they got off, but I'm sure that got lost in the shuffle. As I was very big on writing letters to boy bands back in the day. I also remember shaking Lance Bass' hand on the way out.

Once 'N Sync left, we made our way downstairs, where I believe we go the pictures printed out for us and a T-shirt. I think I still have the T-shirt somewhere.



That's the picture to the left. Debbie is to my left. The girls from my high school are on my right.

This meeting means so many things to me and brings back so many fond memories. Meeting Justin Timberlake before he was Justin Timberlake is not something that many people can say. Also, being in the World Trade Center for a private 'N Sync show is awesome in itself for any boy band fan. And being in the World Trade Center is amazing in itself.



Oh, we never found out what the other group of red stickers got that night.