Employee: Melissa Woodhead

Title: Web Merchandiser

"While most girls my age were swooning over boys like Joey McIntyre and Mark-Paul Gosselaar, I had my eyes set on a man. A man who sang ballads that would make any girls heart melt, a man who wore leather jackets and muscle tees, a man who used a whole can of hairspray just to get the perfect amount a frizz. That man was Richard Marx. 

Richard Marx was my first in many ways: my first concert, my first cassette tape and my first crush. Now as you can imagine, finding Richard Marx paraphernalia was hard to come by. There was no Richard Marx bedding set or lunch boxes and even posters were limited. Of course, I was resourceful, as anyone for their crush would be, and I found four piano music sheets that featured a different picture of him, looking hotter than the next. I'm sure my Mom bought these as an incentive for me to practice the piano but I had different plans for them—to be displayed side by side in my room next to my bed. Every night I would kiss the pictures in order from left to right before getting under the covers to wake up the next day to kiss them good morning. 

I can still recite all of the songs word for word from Repeat Offender and when one of his songs randomly plays while I'm shopping or comes on the radio, a small chill goes down my spine and my heart skips a beat, because you never forget your first crush. I guess Richard himself said it best, "Hold on to the memories." Thanks Richard, I will."