A Love Story... That Inspired Us...

I received an email the other day that truly caught my eye.  It filled me with joy, and then later with sorrow, but inspired me so much that I decided to write about it, and how it has inspired a Mambo performance, like none other...

May 20th:  "Dear Edie,
Just sending you this letter to thank you personally for having this (and the previous guestbook site). It was through your guestbook that I met a person who I know will be my lifelong soul mate, and I am eternally grateful. I want you to know that you have - however indirectly -affected a fellow salsera's life in a way that you could never imagine. Thank you Edie, and I wish you joy and success in all you do.
- Anonymous"

May 21st: I wrote this person back, thanking them for the letter, and asked when the "Big Day" was going to be...  Anonymous wrote:

May 22nd: "Dear Edie:
This is the sad part - we live on opposite sides of the world, and previous obligations will probably never permit any union other than the spiritual one, "en el mambo", that we now have, but for me at least, it it a life-changing relationship, which has given me a reason to keep on "luchando en esta vida loca". This person and I may never even get the chance to physically dance together, but it doesn't even matter - we have been in a mataphysical mambo since the day we first met, and I hope that the dance goes on forever! And I promise you, if I ever get the chance to go to California, I will make it a point to meet you personally to give you a gigantic hug for your part in this.. You are such a sweet person, Edie - thank you again! With much gratitude,  - Anonymous"

May 28th, midnight: "Dear Anonymous,
I had a poem sent to me by a person who also wished to remain anonymous. It was sent the day after you sent me your beautiful first letter to me. It read:

A Metaphysical Mambo by Anonymous Que cosa de la vida! Separated by thousands of miles, and by dissimilar life experiences - We are nonetheless, Closer than a mother's heartbeat to her unborn child's ears. We are reborn.

Our words are transformed into a dance - a mambo - and their rhythms rise and fall in the cadence, and unite in the clave that resounds in our innermost hearts with each heartbeat. I glide forward - you are there to embrace me, and spin me around the universe, and back into your arms - where we complete each other's soul. There is no yesterday - no tomorrow - only this unending moment in time - And the seconds are marked only by the clave.

I don't know if you sent it, or someone else, but I loved it so much that I decided to recite it to our audience at the Dance Extravaganza the other night. At dress rehearsal, some of the members of the dance team thought that it would be appropriate if there was the faint sound of a  distant beat of the clave in the background.  Sir Harry (who will be singing at the Extravaganza), came up with an amazing idea of two dark figures, a man, and a woman, dancing slowly toward each other onto a smoky dimly-lit stage (we're going to have a smoke machine do this) during the recital of the poem.

I told your story (you will remain anonymous... ), then the sad truth that you may never, ever get to meet... I  then started to recite the poem above. The two figures danced toward each other, very slowly, softly danced a Mambo together, to the distant beat of the clave.  They never physically touched. The two figures were Joby and Luis Vazquez, husband and wife, who met each other on a Salsa Dance floor four years ago, and are now the proud parents of a beautiful baby girl.

Your words inspired us to do a performance in dedication to both you, and your soulmate.  May you both meet some day, because the other night, the both of you in spirit, danced your Mambo together.

Take care luv, and God Bless....
- Edie Lewis, The Salsa FREAK

May 29th, 9:00am
"Dear Edie,
I am completely overcome with joy and wonder after reading your letter and website this morning. To think that my letters and poem (I knew you would know), could inspire you to do such a wonderful thing! This is a most precious gift! Edie, thank you, and your dance group, and Sir Harry, and Luis and Joby, and any others involved in the production. Truly, we are all connected in this world!

My heart will be with all of you as the event takes place tonight (sure wish I had a videotape!).

Please don't ever be sad for me - for us - this is a miraculous occurence, to be celebrated - as you are already planning to - with joy, music and dancing!!! Muchisimas gracias desde los espacios mas profundos de mi corazon!
Siempre,
Anonymous"

"...but now abide Faith, Hope, Love, these three;
    but the greatest of these, is Love."
      1 Corinthians, 13