“Enthusiast” is a good descriptor of Kim Anschultz. She gets excited about almost anything; it is contagious. The girl can talk your ear off. Without peer. It’s all the good stuff in the world: family, friends, neat experiences, new opportunities. She doesn’t dwell on the bad stuff. And she can go for days on her beloved nieces and nephews.
It’s that enthusiasm that has made Kim a friend for life to me and Mary and many others.
As I’ve mentioned in previous 60|60 posts, one of the key drivers for this series has been to celebrate some people who have brought such joy to my life, and to do it while we’re all still here. There are hundreds who fit that bill, but just a few who I can go on and on about. Kim is one of them.
Orlando
We met way back at Universal Orlando, working in the production department. Our offices were situated in a doublewide behind the backlot, next to the commissary and across from the ops building and King Kong. She wore a lot of pink, as I recall. And a fanny pack. Or was that me?
Kim and I shared many cigarettes in that trailer. Until one of us “quit.” Then the rest of the trailer denizens voted to make the place a smoke-free environment. I don’t think she was happy about that. So when I predictably fell off the wagon a few months later, she and I shared a lot of smokes on the front porch of the trailer, chatting up passers-by as they came and went for lunch and sometimes breakfast and dinner at the commissary. Production never sleeps!
She was also the production lead on one of my earliest big events, The opening of the “Back to the Future” Ride. It was a star-studded but stormy affair. The ride was huge for Universal Orlando, reversing the fortune of the place after a tough first year, as I know many can attest.
Vegas and the World
Our Orlando era ended in the mid-90s, but just a few years later we were reunited in Las Vegas. Amy Henry, another former Universal-ite, was working for Encore Productions back when they were looking to expand their offerings (and long before Freeman and others bought them up). She brought in Kim and others from Orlando, including Julie Zimmerman, Joe Morris and Genon Rost. And me. (I might be off on some of the details, but if you knew my Vegas posture back then, it shouldn’t be surprising.)
Bill Welter drafted both of us onto the team he was building for the Intel account at Encore. There I met Robert Laney, Darryn Cray, Gregg Stokes, Eve Lenzner, Peter Gordon, Dona and Jeffrey Peters, Jonny Sudbury and many others. This is also where I met besties like John and Dawn McClain, John Masse, Julie Gilday-Shaffer, MJ Coveny and lots more. I could go on and on, but enough name-dropping. This is about Kim! Let’s get into travel and destination-dropping!
Kim and I traveled the world together, producing main stage events for Intel’s CEOs and others. Along the way, she and I hiked the Great Wall of China, shopped the “silk” markets of Beijing, navigated the backstreets of Hong Kong, scarfed sushi at a favorite izakaya in Tokyo. I have video of Kim singing opera outside La Scala in Milan and “reacting” to a giant marble phallic fountain in Amsterdam. We bounced all around South America. There’s footage of Kim learning Spanish on that trip: she really wants to say “hasta mañana” but keeps blurting out “hasta la mama.” And “buenos dias” and “buenos noches” become “buenos aires” repeatedly. Endearing jet lag.
And, as endearingly heart-strong as Kim is, she’s also pretty head-strong. On that South America trip, I remember with a wince a moment when she and I were having a minor disagreement in the production office. When I held my hand up, palm out–talk to the hand–I immediately knew I was done for. She knew I was done for. Everyone in the office knew I was done for. Yeah, I was done for. I’m sure though, by the end of the day she wished me a “buenos aires.”
Family
Because of those travels, Kim’s known me and Mary as a couple probably as long as anyone.
She was at our wedding, actually helped to coordinate on the day. That was a lot to ask of her. But that wasn’t enough for Kim. No. She served up M&Ms with our faces printed on them. She designed a lovely embroidered tablecloth with our names and the date, and lots of airplanes to signify our many travels together. She painted a cowbell. We still cherish it all; the cowbell is ever-present and the tablecloth is in a safe place until it comes out on our anniversary.
Still not enough for Kimmy. We hosted a gathering for Family and close friends the night before the wedding. It was meant to be a low-key affair. And then a mariachi band knocked on the door and the place got lit. Mary and I are control freaks so it took us a moment. My Mom loved it! So did everyone else. There should be a sitcom: “That’s So Kim!”
At the ceremony at sunset near Camelback Mountain, Mary and I were awaiting our cue (from Kim), standing among the trees out of sight. She snapped a random photo on her phone. We had our game faces on; it was a moment. A big moment. It’s one of our absolute favorite photos.
For my recent birthday, she also jumped in to help Mary with the planning for three days in Las Vegas. And once again, she was on it. Everything, including showgirl headdresses. But no pasties. And that’s okay. I carry.
Side note: there’s a recurring theme in this 60|60 series which is my own narcissism. For instance, the art on our walls at home is either mine, or a classic signed by Nagel, or something of sentimental value. Kim’s art is the only other art on display, three framed panels she created and gave to us 10 or 15 years ago. Those will always be with us. Every time we look at them (which is often because they’re right by the flat screen), we think of Kim and it makes us smile.
Life!
As is life, Kim and I have been through a lot of the highs and lows. We haven’t been through all of it together, but we’ve been through it. We’ve shared, empathized and sympathized, and we understand what it’s all meant and what it all means. We appreciate each other on an even deeper level. I think so anyway.
Kim visited us a few weeks ago up here at the Lake. She hasn’t lost a step and we haven’t missed a beat. The girl can still talk. Oh yeah, she can talk. I will tell you this: she is the proudest aunt and sister I have ever known; her stories of kin just sparkle with pride and joy. You all be sure to take good care of our Kim.
Love you, Kimmy. Happy Birthday!
Binderama60for60 
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