My name is Debby Matulevicus and I am a married housewife in my mid thirties.
I live near Atlanta Georgia with my husband and two beautiful black labs... my
babies. But enough about me... as the reason I am writing is to tell all of
you surfers why I too (as all these other "real fans" have written) admire
Melanie C.

My interest in the Spicegirls was slow in coming. When "Wannabe" and "Say
you'll be there" came out here in the states I wasn't super impressed. I
thought "Oh, another new pop band". Yawn yawn yawn as Melanie would probably
say. But one day in January 1998 I was watching the tube and saw on USSB (a
service provider for minidish systems here in the states) an advertisment for
the pay per view presentation of the "live in Istanbul" concert which they
called SpiceGirls... wild! Well, I kept seeing this ad along with some snipits
of an interview they had done and 3 of the music videos. They showed this over
and over on one channel twentyfour/seven to try and sell the PPV event. I kept
finding myself channel surfing over to this channel to see the music videos
and interview. Up to this point I had no interest in the Spicegirls... nor
knew who they each were. But I did know of the band and their two big hits up
to that point. I also knew that they were a BIG hit with the youngsters, and
thus quickly dismissed any notion that they may be a band I would have any
real interest in. 
I mean they were an all girl pop band... what could I possibly have in common
with them. I am in my thirties... they are all young pups in their early
twenties. I am American... they are British. You get the picture. So when I
saw this push for the PPV ... I felt strange. In a way I was drawn to these 5
lasses and their "girl power" mantra. But at the sametime I kept telling
myself... "you are an adult and this is kids stuff".  Well, My heart got the
better of my head and I purchased the PPV showing , at my Hubbies urging. From
there it is history.

I watched these 5 girls dancing and singing, and was drawn into the Spicegirls
following. I went out and bought both CD's and a bio book so I could learn
about each of them. I was a closet spicer!!! Since than I have bought countless
mags and books, all of the new singles and went to to see them in concert last
summer not once... but twice. My hubby even got me two of the Melanie C dolls
and a Spicegirls watch for christmas. I am hooked!!!  Intially when considering
who my favorite was... I could  not choose. But as I watched them in
interviews, and read about them... I naturally singled out Melanie. Why? For
all the obvious reasons. Her voice is very powerful for such a petite thing.
She dances with such style. And of course you can see in each and every
performance how much she truly loves and enjoys performing for all of us!!! Her
eyes and her face just light up with such joy.... and then you see that gold
tooth!!!

But than there are also some not so obvious reasons why I think she is the cats
pajamas. You know when you see or meet someone, and you can just tell if you
are in sync with them. You can just get a Vibe or a feeling that this person is
the kind of person that could be a great friend because you share so much in
the way of likes and dislikes. Well, I got that vibe with Melanie once I began
to learn more and more about her. For example... I too enjoy Soccer/Football
and played when I was growing up... and coincedentally was also a midfielder.
Also... I too was a real tomboy growing up just as Melanie has confessed, and
thus got on with the boys much better than the girls. To continue on this trend
I also dislike smokers and lazy people. I also am obsessed with orderliness and
must have each can in the cupboard facing the same way and the bills in my
wallet all face front and top up. And finally, I too work out daily to build up
my muscles. By the way Melanie... I also hate that guys can build up there
physique so much quicker with less work than us too!! It is not fair.
So you see I feel though this is a person I don't and probably never will know,
that it is still a person I am connected with in a way. I feel like she is
somebody that I could sit down and chat with like an old chum.

I must confess as a youngster I also dreamed of growing up and becoming a pop
star.. but Melanie was bold enough to actually do something about her dreams!!
She is an inspiration in my life... and being one of her biggest fans gives me
much joy. I always wanted to get a tatto when I was younger.. in my twenties.
But was always to afraid.. not of the needles, but of the social stigma that
came with having a tat. Of course now a days everybody seems to be getting into
bodyart. Anyhow when I saw that she was brave enough ... I figured the time had
come for me. I now have three small but lovely tattos that I really enjoy. And
I owe it all to Melanie, as crazy as it may sound. She is not a role model for
me, as she is for thousands if not millions of young girls. I feel like she is
a friend that I have never met. She is a strong, independant and determined
person. She is growing and changing everyday in appearance and personal taste.
But yet she is still and will always be the same positive and supertalented
girl she has been from the start. And her life is an inspiration to me. We all
need someone to admire and look up to...and Melanie fits nicely into that role.

Thanks Melanie Jayne Chisholm for being the wonderful person that you are. If
you ever need anybody to catch some footie with or chat over a brew.. let me
know. I'd love the honor of knowing a fine a person as you.