Softly, but audibly she could hear the familiar lyrics of Pretty Blue Eyes sung by Steve Lawrence playing in the background as she had so many times before when he called for something important or just when he wanted to simply talk. It almost seemed as though this had become their song!
Joe lived down the street from her with his mother, father and older sister in a little white clapboard Victorian house. She lived in a stucco, Spanish duplex with her mother, an older sister, an older brother and a younger brother. She was sixteen, a sophomore at Our Lady Queen of Angels High School in downtown L.A. near Olvera Street and Union Station. She was taught by the Immaculate Heart Sisters. He attended Salesian High School on Soto Street in the Boyle Heights area of East L.A. and was taught by the Salesian Brothers and Fathers. It seemed as though they were from two different worlds - she, blond, blue eyed, thinly built, slightly curvy, but more on the skinny side. He of Spanish-Mexican descent, olive skinned and a bit on the muscular side with slight sideburns to his credit, making him appear a bit more sophisticated than the sixteen years he was.
As the familiar tune continued softly in the background, she could hear Joe ask, "Ana, would you like to go to the Hollywood Bowl with me on Saturday? Frankie Avalon, Fabian, Annette Funicello, Bobby Darren and many others will appear on the show and I think we should have fun."
This was July 1959! And this would be her first date! She had attended many school dances and sock hops but always with friends meeting the boys there or attending in groups. "I'd love to go! It does sound like fun," she added. She was looking forward to this lone journey with Joe, on the bus, through downtown and off to the yet unknown, at least to her, Hollywood Bowl.
In the past he was always thoughtful, kind, attentive and a gentleman. She recalled the fluffy, yellow feathered chick in a yellow basket he brought her for Easter last year; then it grew into a big brown hen; thus outgrowing their little apartment, so he gratefully took it back and promised to take good care of it for her. She also remembered one Christmas Joe and his family went back to Mexico for a holiday visit with relatives, and he brought her back a beautiful gold and black lace Mantilla to cover her head when she attended Mass. He signed the peacock, plume feathers decorated, hand made card, as coming from Balthazar, Melchior and Gaspar, (the Three Kings who brought gifts to the Baby Jesus on the Feast of the Epiphany).
Ana and Joe happily and enthusiastically went on their much anticipated date. Simple hand holding, good lively conversation and singing those well-known songs comprised this good time date; after all,it was a simple time and place; but the Hollywood Bowl became almost a second summer home for musical entertainment for Ana and her family many years after being introduced to the Bowl in July 1959 by Joe.
