When your heart is broken, you plant seeds in the cracks and you pray for rain

(source)

Yesterday, I was fortunately to attend Andrea Gibson poetry reading at Wellesley College. The show started at 8pm, but I got there around 7:20pm. I stayed inside my car in the parking garage until 7:40pm because I didn't know if people were already entering the auditorium. I often get nervous about new experiences, but my excitement to see my favorite poet won over. I started walking towards the auditorium and saw that many people were walking towards there too. About 300 people RVSP on Facebook, so I was expecting a big multitude of people. I paid my $10 entry fee, and saw that about 40+ people were already inside. I sat about 6 rows away from the stage. I was kind of sad that I didn't enter earlier, and thus, couldn't sit closer, but I was in a good location nonetheless. While waiting, I caught a glimpse of Andrea who was in the far right of the auditorium getting ready for the show. I have read that she gets nervous before a show, and I was able to notice that from my seat. She was very serious, walking back and forth. The people in charge were getting the lights and audio ready before the show, and I was able to experience it all. I have been a fan of Andrea since I first heard her love poem 'Photograph', and I have been waiting diligently until she came close to my house to see her.

Everyone showing Cara love!

Perhaps my biggest surprise and one that made the whole experience even more magical, is the role Cara, my favorite person in the web, had in the show. Cara is a terminal ill person whose tumblr I have follow since April. I wrote very briefly about hir here. Anyway, Cara is a huge fan of Andrea, and ze was able to skype and see the show (see picture above). It was very strange because I wanted to scream, 'hey, I know Cara too!' but I didn't. During Andrea's show, she made various references to Cara, particularly how ze has changed Andrea's life, and I just smiled and agreed.
During the show, Andrea was very funny and engaging. It was just like I imagined her shows to be like. The highlights for me were the poems 'Dive' which she dedicated to Cara, 'Ashes', and 'I Do'. I had a lovely time there, and I am sure other people did, too. I wish I could write poetry like Andrea, but for the time being I am content with listening to her write phenomenal poems. Thank you for sharing your art, Andrea.