Happy Birthday, Anna-Kim!

I met Anna-Kim 5 months and two days ago. She opened the singer/songwriter night in Rio Del Mar - it was my first time out in a very long time. Rebecca and Gary Parks (whose set followed Anna-Kim's) had stayed overnight at my house and convinced me to listen in at their gig the next day. I got a good seat near the stage but couldn't get a waitress to serve me, so I hung my jacket on the back of the seat and went to the bar.

Scribbling down a poem on my Ipaq while trying to find a way to extricate myself from a drunk's animated enthusiasm about PocketPC, I had my back to Anna-Kim for most of her set. A couple of her songs did catch my ear, but nothing really stuck with me. As Rebecca and Gary were setting up, I wandered back to my seat, but it had been taken. Every seat had been taken.

Anna-Kim was sitting alone on the couch, with a glass of wine in her hand. I swallowed, put on my best "blogger as music journalist" facade, grabbed my jacket, and sat down next to her.

We started talking. We talked all through the Park's set, actually, pausing only for a couple of Rebecca's strongest songs ("Fade to Black", "When working isn't working", "Sexy in Socks"). I liked that Anna-Kim didn't feel compelled to talk over the music... the conversation had a natural ebb and flow to it... we talked through the next set... and the next.

So I bought a copy of DreamWorld, and invited her to join us at the one place still open for food at 1AM in Santa Cruz - The Saturn Cafe. I listened to her CD in the car as I drove over ("Untameable", "cruising the milky way", and "I miss myself" stuck with me), and I figured that was as close to her as I was ever going to get.

I really didn't expect her to make it to the saturn cafe. But she did...

And we've been dating ever since. We've had good times and bad times together - most recently far more good than bad as we've learned more of each other's ways. I remember back when I was writing Beating the Brand, and all the brand names in my kitchen were still covered with post-it notes, I woke up to find she'd written a little note on each one of them, things like:

"I like your eyes", and "You're cute", and "You are a bright star in my starry night", and "I love being kissed by a surfer dude".

In all the time we've been together, I've never told her I loved her. When we met, my heart was stone cold, filled with bitterness, and gradually she has healed me, enough to say today:

I love you! You fill my garden with music, and my heart lifts.

The happiest of birthdays Anna-Kim!

Love,

mike


"Something seeks you out - in the dark
Something that from your own heart sparks
When you find it, then you must be a part
of the answers in the end

There is no use to run and you can't hide
Though you're tempted and you've already tried
to go flying high, far and fast
only to find that I'll always outlast... you

(Chorus)
So hold me, hold me, hold me, hold me tight
Keep your focus, keep me in your sight
Hold my heart up just like a light
In the middle of your night
In the middle of your night

(Verse)

I can help you, that's why I was sent
I signed up and I won't relent
It's been a lifetime of training, of tears spent
to show up here, and be your friend

(Chorus)

You must find your way through
There are people waiting for you
Places are calling, and you can't keep stalling
The other side of the dark
(Chorus)

I will guide you, through these woods we go
Don't be frightened, the way you already know
You just lost sight of the path so long ago
Lost your vision, lost your soul

(Chorus)

(Coda)

In the middle of your night
In the middle of your night
In the middle of your night"
Copyright 2003 Anna-Kim Aleris  ¶ 8:06 AM