Name : Ana Sofia Ramos
Birthdate: January 3 1976
From : Lima, Peru
Current Residence : Fairfax, Va

My name is Ana, actually, Ana Sofia del Carmen :) and my friends call me Anita. I was born and raised in Lima, Peru. I moved to the USA on October 5, 2002.

I was just thinking that I've been so blessed to attend 6 of her concerts so far since I've been living in the US. And the reason I was thinking about that is, because this month I celebrated my 6th anniversary of living in the USA, and was trying to think about the things that I've accomplished so far and if it was worth leaving my country (PERU) or not...I've been a Gloria fan since I was 5 years old (at least, back in 1981) and have followed her career through the years.

I remember growing up dreaming about going to just one of her concerts, and all seemed so impossible. She was so far away. Even though I've visited Miami several times in my childhood, I never got my parents to take me to one of her concerts. I took the boat tour and saw her house, and dined at Lario's several times (and actually using my Fan club discount card).

But that was the closest I got to "her". I even tried to figure out a way to go to the millenium concert, I would ask my cousin to buy my ticket and then convince my parents to let me go by myself. But didn't happen. Then I moved to the US and was able to become more independent, and at the same time more confident about myself. And then the concert in Vegas happened, it was bad timing and on top of that, it looked so expensive to me. Then she announced her last tour and I felt like crying, so instead of going to the show closest to my area, I decided that I wanted to go to my very first concert in Miami. So I get to Miami with tickets for both shows, and the hurricane came! I was crying, devastated that I was missing my only chance to live my dream (and I have 2nd row tkts!!) because it was so hard to get that week off from work to begin with, and I've planned my vacation around that concert.My boss (and friend) felt so bad, that she arranged to get my shift covered for the night of the re-scheduled concert, but I had to give up my other 2 tickets for the other show. She could only give me one day off :(

Since that day, I decided that I needed to have "Gloria money" put aside, so I didn't have to miss another concert because of money. I was glad that I was able to afford to go back to Miami for the re-scheduled concert. That 2 day trip cost more than the week vacation!So I've gone long ways from having to watch Gloria on TV and the internet (back in Peru), to enjoy being at her concerts and actually meeting her.I got my chance to meet her last year at the 90millas cd signing in NY, even though I couldn't speak no more than 3 words (all answers to her questions : What's your name? Where are you from? and something else I can't remember) lame, I know. I wish one day I'll "talk" to her again so I could have the opportunity to tell her how much I love her, how much I love ALL her music. That I've been a fan of hers my whole life and how much she's inspired me and, how much her music means to me.