Gift of song: South Valley's Lonnie Anderson hits the right notes with Valentine's gift

Feb. 14—Maya Angelou famously said, "Love recognizes no barriers."

While only four words, its power transcends.

The saying could describe South Valley resident Lonnie Anderson and his journey for spreading love and kindness each Valentine's Day.

For 27 years, Anderson has reached for the sky in creating a moment of love for his wife, Anne Bolger Witherspoon.

He's written out an e.e. cummings poem with 6,500 pebbles in the sand.

Want bigger? A few years ago, he set up an amusement park carousel in his front yard.

One year, Anderson built a bouquet of flowers taller than a house.

He's not above soliciting help from the likes of author Rudolfo Anaya or artist Shepard Fairey — both who helped him with a gift.

What would Anderson dream up for 2024?

"I've been working for months to get a symphony to perform a song for my wife," said Anderson, smiling. "I think it would be the most romantic thing."

Months ago, Anderson began searching for avenues to make the idea a reality.

A moment of magic happened as Anderson reached out to the National Hispanic Cultural Center. It happened that Opera Southwest is in the midst of rehearsals for an upcoming performance. Reaching out to both Nicolle Maniaci of Opera Southwest and Max Maliga, NHCC Performing Arts manager, Anderson told them of the idea and began to wait.

"They were both interested in doing whatever it took to make it happen," Anderson says.

On Thursday, less than one week before Valentine's Day, Anderson got word that everything was set to go.

This year, the present would be given earlier than Valentine's Day.

Anderson arrived at the Albuquerque Journal Theatre on the NHCC campus on Sunday — just before 9:30 p.m. The lights were on in the 691-seat theater. The curtain was down. Anderson and his wife, Anne, sat in the center of the seventh row.

Then, the curtain rose and the symphony began to perform "Lullaby" by William Hofeldt.

"She didn't know what was happening," Anderson said of his wife. "I've dreamed of something like this for so long. All the stars aligned to make it another special day for my wife."

Zack Quintero, NHCC executive director, helped make sure the moment would be special. His staff put in the work to make it happen.

"We're excited and grateful to host an event like this with our South Valley familia and lifting up love for all New Mexicans," Quintero said. "The NHCC is home for all."

Bolger Witherspoon says Valentine's Day can be about romantic love, "but at the heart of it, for me, it's about collective love."

"It is watching the Opera Southwest musicians play together with passionate hearts, sending out notes of love," Bolger Witherspoon said. "Taking a moment to slow down and share time with other people is love. Expressing gratitude for little things, like the gift of a song, is love."

Anderson has appeared in publications worldwide for his Valentine's Day gifts to his wife. While he's proud of each effort, he's most proud of the message of love and kindness.

Anderson was a foster child and was adopted when he was young.

"I was raised in a household of violence," he said. "It was a difficult situation and it really had an impact on me. But I don't let it define me."

He began spreading love as a vow to his wife — one that would never leave her feeling unloved or insecure.

His journey has been chronicled in the documentary "Love in the Valley."

A few years ago, Anderson nearly had the London Symphony ready to perform a song — but was eventually turned down because of the symphony's union contracts.

His daughters have joined in on the fun as they've grown into adulthood.

"Those girls have helped me," he said. "I dressed one of them up as Cupid one year. They've grown up to appreciate the grand gestures."

While his imagination is already in full swing for next year's gesture — the reasoning remains simple.

"There are many reasons why I do such grand gestures of affection for my wife of 27 years," he said. "Mostly to thank her for all she does for our family. It is a way to show kindness, even if it is to just one person, you can make the world better.

"My Valentines have inspired others to do amazing things for the people they love. I take my Valentines out to remote schools and reservations. You can't go wrong spreading inspiration and love."