Eternal Flame

I had previously written about the songs that say something about my life. Today I realized that I had omitted a very important song in all that. As I was driving home from taking my son to jazz band practice before school I heard playing on the radio Eternal Flame by the Bangles.




The significance of this song goes back a little over 20 years...at a dance on April 14, 1989.

On March 31 of that year I was at a dance at the student union building on the University of Utah campus. I had just broken up with a guy I had been dating for a couple months or so, but rather than feeling heart broken I was now free to find someone new. On the way to the dance I had told my friends that I would indeed meet someone that night.

Knowing the guys who ususally show up to these dances the group of girls I was with found it more entertaining to form a big circle and just dance. But as I was dancing in that big circle with the girls a thought came to me, "you won't meet him dancing with the girls."

I left the circle and walked to the other end of the ballroom. I was asked to dance by some guy I don't remember much about. At the end of that number I didn't make it back off the dance floor before another guy asked me to dance.

This guy, I quickly learned, knew enough of the swing that he had my attention. We danced and talked the rest of the evening.

A little less than a week later he gave me a poem he had written for me**.

When I saw you on the dance floor
The rest just faded away,
I asked if you would dance with me
Afraid of what you would say.
We talked and danced the night away,
And had a lot of fun.
I never thought I'd fall for you
Before the night was done.

The feel of your hand next to nine
Is like a dream come true.
No matter what I'm thinking of
It ends up being you.
My heart's been tugged on once or twice,
But never quite like now.
You stole it right away from me.
I don't know why or how.

I never knew the simple joy
Of sitting down together,
And talking with each other
Regardless of the weather,
Or looking through a picture book
Of friends and places past
And seeing how those friendships
Are something that can last.

There's something deep within my soul,
A flame that's burning bright.
It makes me smile as I think of you
Every day and night.
I've heard that strong fires burn out soon.
I hope that it's untrue.
I also hope that what I feel
Is also felt by you.

A week and a half later I had prayed to know if this was the guy I should be with for the rest of my life and eternity. The next evening at the dance in April of 1989 the words of his poem ran through my head as we slowly danced to Eternal Flame...and I knew.

We were engaged a week later.


**(A side note to this: he had shown the poem to his sister who warned him that it might scare me away.)


Also: he has since written many poems to me. Life is good.