How I became a middle-aged Harry Styles superfan and spent five figures chasing him around the world

We call ourselves “Harries.”  You’ll see us rolling up to Madison Square Garden, confidently solo and wearing Bob Mackie minidresses we thrifted on our travels.You’ll hear us singing along to old One Direction songs with the crowd at Wembley Stadium, just like the younger women — also “Harries” — who could be our daughters.

You’ll watch us hit “buy” on our Delta flight apps at a moment’s notice, spending $2,000 in a heartbeat (or in our case, a drumbeat) to chase a last-minute concert ticket on a different continent.Then you’ll wonder: Who are these people?I’ll tell you.We are 50-something women with prestigious jobs, designer closets, elite academic pedigrees, and the knowledge that it’s possible to find pure, unfiltered joy, connection, and community by touring around the world for Harry Styles shows.We regret nothing. By the time Harry Styles wraps his historic 30-night residency at Madison Square Garden, I will have hit his “Together, Together” tour 37 times.In fact, I’ll turn 51 right inside the Garden as Harry takes the stage on Halloween.I’m fully aware this sounds over-the-top, but I promise: This is the opposite of a midlife crisis.

It feels like a midlife return to my absolute rawest, most authentic self, backed by decades of survival, grief and therapy.It began 12 years ago with a one-two punch.I had my “dream job” as a huge editor at Cosmopolitan magazine.That is, until a gloomy overlord took over my department and made work a living hell for me and my colleagues.

(He was later accused of inappropriate and lewd behavior ) Then my mom died suddenly, knocking what was left of my fighting spirit right out of me.I was desperately sad and angry, so I moved home to Indianapolis.

The cost of living meant I could be closer to my family while staying afloat financially. With a little more time on my hands, I began volunteering as a counselor at a grief camp for kids.I learned it’s cool to be vulnerable — eve...