9th birthday.  1991.  I received possibly the greatest gift a boy could ask for – a $10 gift certificate to Strawberries, a now defunct record store chain.

Strawberries was quite alluring to me. I had two older sisters, who I worshipped, that shopped there from time to time. The closest one to our house was in a relatively rough neighborhood, so it was always interesting to visit; you never knew what you’d see.  We heard a rumor that someone got stabbed in the parking lot, and even though I was certainly no tough guy (my sisters used to put bows in my hair), it excited me greatly.

There were many juicy choices in the fall of 1991.  Nirvana’s Nevermind had just come out, but I can’t say I had my finger “on the pulse” in 3rd grade, so that wasn’t even a thought that crossed my mind.  Use Your Illusion 1 & 2  were just released, and I loved GNR!  Sadly, they had the notorious “Parental Advisory” sticker slapped on them, so I’d have to wait for my sisters to obtain a copy.  I thought about getting the “Don’t Cry” cassette single, which didn’t have a warning label, but I wanted the whole enchilada. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks.  I had just heard something on the radio… something smooth as hell…

Cooleyhighharmony.  Yes.  Boyz II Men.  I was obsessed with B2M!

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