Growing up, I knew one thing for sure.  I hated the New Kids on the Block and anything or anyone associated with that group.  They didn’t write their own music, they didn’t play instruments.  The synchronized stupid dance movements.  The idiotic songs.  The fact that everyone in a ring of hell called “the seventh grade wing” carried a book cover with their stupid image on it.  No way I was EVER going to like those guys.

Now I live in Boston and a funny thing has happened.  The guys from New Kids on the Block live in Boston, at least some of them and their relatives are around here and very active in the community.  Joey McIntyre runs the Boston Marathon every year to support his mother, who has Alzheimer disease.  I saw him perform a couple of years ago at the Boston Christmas tree lighting and he was pretty good.  He was joined on stage by his fellow New Kids, guys that I swore I would hate forever.

And then the Wahlbergs.  Donnie Wahlberg was the fake bad kid in the band with the brother who did some kind of cheesy rap.  No way I was going to like those guys.  No way.  So why was it that I stood in line today for over two hours to get a free hamburger cooked by one Wahlberg, while accepting a water from another?  Well, the Wahlbergs are actually trying to do something good for the city of their birth and upbringing and that to me is extremely cool.  They overall seem to be good Boston boys, bringing good cheer to a city I love dearly.  So I can say that I really don’t hate the New Kids anymore.  We’ve all grown up now.  Even me.

First up, Wahlberg One, Arthur Wahlberg, the oldest of the NINE Wahlbergs.  NINE.  The line to get to the bathroom in the morning must have been absolutely epic in their house growing up.  Mr. Wahlberg the Eldest was handing out water to the people waiting in the hot sun for Wahlberg hamburgers.  Wahlburgers, if you will.  Here he is:

He was very nice handing out the water and tatter tots to everyone.  The cooking Wahlberg, Paul, was equally nice.  I actually thanked him profusely for giving me my hamburger and he gave me a big smile when I took his photo today.  Thanks Paul Wahlberg for a yummy hamburger and for letting me take your photo: