Deep in my Heart

The Gipsy Kings live in my Gypsy soul.
If you watch, you’ll see how deeply embedded this music is in my heart, soul, and body.

I knew I wanted to come to Spain, but I had forgotten how long this country, people, and language have been living in my heart. I’m a Texas girl, and I always will be.

And….

Spanish is my soul language

My mom started learning Spanish when I was about 4. When she took a class at a community college, she started watching Mexican telenovelas and sort of leave them on in the background. I don’t remember much about them, but I know I was listening to Spanish early on. I started studying Spanish in school around age 10, and my first teacher was from Spain. She was so kind and passionate, and I really looked up to her.

In high school I became close friends with Cristina, whose parents were older and had emigrated from Spain during the Franco regime. Whenever I’d spend the night at Cristina’s house, she would apologize for her parents’ traditional ways, but I loved them. I also fell in love with their traditional tortilla de patata!

Running away with Gypsies

My Spanish high school teacher was fanatical about exposing us to Hispanic culture, especially music. I become obsessed with flamenco guitar (and all that permission to feel). At 16, when I spent a summer living w a family in South America, I found flamenco classes and jumped on them. When I got back to Dallas I went to see Ottmar Liebert, a world-renowned classical guitarist, perform at a Border’s Books & Music. He signed my castañuelas (the wooden castanets from my flamenco class)!

After high school I backpacked around Europe with my friend Evonne. We visited our friend Cristina and her family in Salamanca, Spain, and it was a magical weekend with river swimming, waterfalls, and local late night fun! We also saw a flamenco troupe perform in Avignon, France, and I swear I was on the verge of running away with them after the show. Instead, I made do by listening to the Gipsy Kings nonstop for about 4 years. It was my deepest desire to dance on stage at one of their concerts.

More than 20 years later, that actually happened, and it was truly a highlight of my life. Many thanks to my friend Keith for celebrating my joy and getting it all on video!

It’s hard to explain the impact this music has had on me. When I’m dancing to Gipsy Kings, it’s pure ecstasy. I’m completely alive, with zero doubts (as you can see in this video 😅). Dancing to a few of their songs can get me through a whole day. Imagine my delight to be in Andalucia, where you hear this music in concerts, in restaurants, in popular music, and just about anywhere you go.

🌺🙏🏼🌺

All this to say, I’m very happy to be in Spain again, and in many ways, it actually feels like home.