Deep in my Heart

Sometimes you arrive somewhere and realize you’ve been carrying it inside you all along. That’s what being back in Spain feels like to me.

I knew I wanted to come to Spain, but I had forgotten how long this country, language, and people 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. She took a class at a community college, and her teacher told them to practice by leaving Mexican telenovelas on the TV during the days. I don’t remember much about the shows, but I know I was listening to Spanish early on. I started taking Spanish at school at age 9. My first teacher was originally from Spain. She was smart, passionate, and creative. I really looked up to her.

In high school, one of my best friends was Cristina, whose parents were older and had emigrated from Spain during the Franco regime. They had thick Spanish accents, and their home was decorated in a very traditional Spanish style. Whenever I’d spend the night at Cristina’s house, she would apologize for her parents’ idiosyncrasies, but I loved them. I also fell in love with their tortilla de patata!

Spanish music taught me how to feel

My high school Spanish teacher was fanatical about exposing us to Hispanic culture, especially music. I become obsessed with flamenco guitar at 16. It gave me so much permission to feel). When I spent a summer living w a family in South America, I found flamenco classes and jumped right in. When I got back to Dallas I went to see Ottmar Liebert, a world-renowned classical guitarist, perform at a bookstore. He signed my castañuelas (the wooden castanets from my flamenco class). That made me giddy.

Dreams of running away with Gypsies (and the Gipsy Kings)

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, flirting 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.

And then 10 years ago, it actually happened. That’s what you see in this video below: my lifelong dream coming true! Many thanks to my friend Keith for celebrating my joy and getting it all on video. Note: ten years ago I was struggling with chronic illness, and some days I could barely get out of bed. But occasionally I would throw caution to the wind and go follow my bliss (music and dancing). Even though my body would be extremely worn out the next day, it kept sparks of life force alive in my heart.

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 the 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. Muchas gracias, España!
🌺🙏🏼🌺

The Gipsy Kings live in my Gypsy soul, and I’ve got video proof. Watch and you’ll see how deeply embedded this music is in my heart, soul, and body.