Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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In 1993, I was still living and working in Boston, but it was time for a change. Encouraged by my friend Rick, I had applied for a teaching position in the University of San Diego/Old Globe Theatre MFA Professional Actor Training Program. Interviews for jobs such as these can be exhausting. You fly somewhere, spend a day teaching a class in front of the Search Committee, have countless interviews, have lunch/dinner, meet a lot of people, smile so much that your teeth ache, and fly back home. All with in 24 – 48 hours.

Thus, I was found jetting off to California (I had never been there before) for a job interview. I knew a couple of people who worked at the Globe and one of them, Kathy McGrath, was in the current show running at the theater. I had some free time, so I went to the matinee. There was a guy in the cast who was a wonderful actor and I distinctly remember looking at his photo in the program and reading his bio.

I got the job, by the way.

Fast forward to a year later, in 1994. I had successfully managed the first year of teaching in a whole new environment. I had just been through the tragic murder of one of my beloved students. I was coaching one of the summer productions for the Globe, a play called Wonderful Tennessee by Brian Friel. The Globe used to host an event called “Company Call” where everyone involved in the current productions met in the theater, along with staff and management. It was a great way to get to know each other. During this particular Company Call, three people were made Associate Artists, an honor bestowed on artists who had forged a long relationship with the theater. I recognized one of the honorees. It was the same guy I had seen onstage the previous year. His speech was funny and self-deprecating and I found him intriguing. He was playing Malvolio in Twelfth Night, which was currently in rehearsal.

A week or so later, Kathy had her annual Fourth of July bash at her home by the beach. I had been serving on Jury Duty and was grateful for a day off from a tedious and contentious trial. Rick and I headed out to the beach. Lots of people from the theater were there. (In those days, the Globe was like one big family.)

I knew most everyone and I spent a lot of time with the cast of Wonderful Tennessee, most of them actors who had worked off and on at the Globe for years. Every time I came back into the living room of Kathy’s house, a guy kept catching my eye and smiling at me. This happened several times.

It was that guy I had seen in the play. That guy who had just been made an Associate Artist. Oh, I knew his name. He was Don Sparks.

I am by nature a friendly person who is fundamentally shy. I was never the kind of girl who went up to a man and initiated a flirtation. Too shy for that. But something made me go up to this guy. After all, he’d been putting an enormous amount of effort into catching my eye. And he seemed like a nice guy.

So I bit the bullet, walked up to him and introduced myself. We sat on the sofa and talked to each other. Our conversation centered around the fact that we couldn’t believe we were in our forties.

I was a wee bit smitten.

So, it turns out, was Don. In fact, he uses the word ‘lust’ to describe his feelings on that Fourth of July.

Later in the evening, we all went to the beach to watch the fireworks and, though we were sitting far apart from each other, he managed to catch my eye again. He smiled. He’s got a great smile.

I guess you can say we saw fireworks on the day we met.

Within a few weeks (we were both busy with our respective productions) we went on our first date. Four years later, we were married.

20years

20 years.

Pretty good for a guy who had been married before and wasn’t sure if he wanted to be married again.

Pretty good for a girl who had dodged any sort of commitment for years and didn’t think she could sustain a long relationship, let alone marry someone.

Happy 20th, my love.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Comments

  5. “….And when we grow old
    I will find two chairs
    and set them close each sun-lit day,
    that you and I – in quiet joy –
    may rock the world away.”
    Robert Sexton

    Happy Anniversary. Wishing you many years together.

    Reply

  8. Sweet story! It always amazes me when Love actually works so easily between some couples. Not that there are not rough patches, but that for us blessed ones, there is so much love, that we just keep on together!

    Reply

  11. When it’s right, it’s right – sometimes the one thing that needs to happen is the right place and the right time and the right people and it looks to me that the two of you have got it right! Congratulations on 20 wonderful years together. Clearly, it was meant to be.

    Reply

  15. Great story and happiest of anniversaries to you both! Is today [the Fourth] your actual wedding anniversary too? Or the anniversary of your first real meeting? I love your line – “I guess you can say we saw fireworks on the day we met…” Have a wonderful day! :>)

    Reply

    • Anniversary of the day we met. (We consider it the most important anniversary, after all we wouldn’t be married without having met on the Fourth of July!) Wedding anniversary is October 12th. xo
      Oh, and we got engaged on the Fourth of July in 1998.

      Reply

  16. I think it is when we take time to remember those “special to us” moments ~ the day I first saw you ~ the day we finally met ~ our first date ~ and on and on we keep our story alive. When we forget to celebrate those special times we lose so much. Your story is wonderful and I hope you keep all of the memories alive! We just celebrated our 42nd anniversary, and though it might seem it gets harder to remember back that long ago, since we go over those special times every single year, we are happy to know we still can recall all of the happiness of “the beginning”. I love your story and hope your 4th this year concludes with a few more fireworks~~!!~~

    Reply

    • Like you, we retell our story every year. It keeps it alive and fresh in our minds and reminds us to never take it for granted. Here’s to love stories! xoxo

      Reply

  19. “Happy Anniversary” to two lovely people. It’s a big one so celebrate your favorite way. I think that should include cake. ;-) Hugs, Deb

    Reply

  21. Happy Anniversary to you two! My eyes were watering at such a beautiful story. I am still grinning ear to ear. If I ask you to tell me a story on Christmas Eve, this is the one I want to hear. Have another 40 amazing years Claudia and Don!
    Tana

    Reply

  25. Happy Anniversary to you and Don. What a wonderful story:)

    My husband and I have been married almost 46 years. Our first date was a blind date arranged by a friend….we both knew on the first date that we were meant for each other and were engaged six weeks later.

    I hope you two have a wonderful weekend.

    Diane

    Reply

  26. LUST! OMG!

    I know and love this story but I didn’t know about the lust!

    Until now. Way to go, Don!

    Forget about “hearing wedding bells” at first sight. Go for the gusto!

    Reply

  30. I really believe what your first poster wrote. Your love was meant to be. You two are an adorable couple, (REALLY) ! I wish you both so many more happy years together. At least 45 more years, sounds good, don’t you think? OK..OK.. and a whole lot more than that too…Congratulations to two SWEETIES

    Reply

  31. I love that story…it is so romantic! Hope you had a wonderful day! Happy Anniversary you two….and may you have at least twenty more! ;)

    Reply
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