http://pablotoledo.com/archives/94 I knew it all along. Now you do as well. Mon, 04 Jan 2010 01:06:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 http://pablotoledo.com/archives/94/comment-page-1#comment-66 LRT Thu, 07 Aug 2008 05:19:01 +0000 http://pablotoledo.com/?p=94#comment-66 I met my Kelly Smallwood in the streets of South Tucson in 1952. The first time I saw Delia Watts I thought an angel had moved to 31st Street. Green eyes, reddish brown hair, milk honey skin, captivating smile and a perfect body. For the first time I felt myself feel awkwardly dark, skinny, lacking in attractiveness and little to offer such a beauty. Delia was at least two years my age which seemed like a decade particularly after listening to all the male batos (teens) in the barrio speak gloriously of Delia. More of a contentious dynamic was that her two older brothers watched over her like a junkyard dog over his sole bone. Her brother Corky was one of my buddies and had no notion regarding my feelings towards his sister. If only I could confront Delia but what the hell would I tell her. Leave it to the Azteca (or Yaqui) Gods to bring order to the cosmos and sure enough, the day came. I rode my bike everyday to Mission View Elementary School via 5th Avenue as she lived on 5th & 31stSt. Damn if one morning I saw her walking to school by herself. I stopped my bike and asked her if she needed a ride fully expecting her to tell me to 'bug' off. "Sure , why not!" She climbed on my bike and as we took off, her scent mezmerized me and as I accelerated her reddish hair began flying all over my face. The 15 minute ride seemed like 15 seconds and yet like an eternity. I was so energized that I played my trumpet like Herb Alpert, boxed like Julio Ceasar Chavez and felt is if I had discovered the Azteca (or Yaqui) Nirvana. Alas, I would never give Delia another ride other then pass each other on the streets and school acknowledging each other with glances and unspoken thoughts. I married at a very early age and actually displaced Delia with my new wife, my kids, school, work and football. I happened to visit my folks in 1962 (21) and happened to see Delia from a distance. She looked in my direction about a block away but did not acknowledge my nod nor thoughts. My Mother always knew whom my first love was and mentioned Delia's name a few weeks before she passed away in 1993. At the time it seemed like an insignificant comment but it capsulized our relationships with the Kelly Smallwoods and Delia Watts of the world. Perhaps it is these glorious encounters that prepare us for the reality of a world that sometimes doesn't measure up to the ideal yet gives us enough of an exotic journey to have given us a worthy experience during our short stay on tierra firma. I met my Kelly Smallwood in the streets of South Tucson in 1952. The first time I saw Delia Watts I thought an angel had moved to 31st Street. Green eyes, reddish brown hair, milk honey skin, captivating smile and a perfect body.
For the first time I felt myself feel awkwardly dark, skinny, lacking in attractiveness and little to offer such a beauty. Delia was at least two years my age which seemed like a decade particularly after listening to all the male batos (teens) in the barrio speak gloriously of Delia.
More of a contentious dynamic was that her two older brothers watched over her like a junkyard dog over his sole bone. Her brother Corky was one of my buddies and had no notion regarding my feelings towards his sister. If only I could confront Delia but what the hell would I tell her.
Leave it to the Azteca (or Yaqui) Gods to bring order to the cosmos and sure enough, the day came. I rode my bike everyday to Mission View Elementary School via 5th Avenue as she lived on 5th & 31stSt. Damn if one morning I saw her walking to school by herself. I stopped my bike and asked her if she needed a ride fully expecting her to tell me to ‘bug’ off.
“Sure , why not!” She climbed on my bike and as we took off, her scent mezmerized me and as I accelerated her reddish hair began flying all over my face. The 15 minute ride seemed like 15 seconds and yet like an eternity.
I was so energized that I played my trumpet like Herb Alpert, boxed like Julio Ceasar Chavez and felt is if I had discovered the Azteca (or Yaqui) Nirvana.
Alas, I would never give Delia another ride other then pass each other on the streets and school acknowledging each other with glances and unspoken thoughts.
I married at a very early age and actually displaced Delia with my new wife, my kids, school, work and football. I happened to visit my folks in 1962 (21) and happened to see Delia from a distance. She looked in my direction about a block away but did not acknowledge my nod nor thoughts. My Mother always knew whom my first love was and mentioned Delia’s name a few weeks before she passed away in 1993. At the time it seemed like an insignificant comment but it capsulized our relationships with the Kelly Smallwoods and Delia Watts of the world.
Perhaps it is these glorious encounters that prepare us for the reality of a world that sometimes doesn’t measure up to the ideal yet gives us enough of an exotic journey to have given us a worthy experience during our short stay on tierra firma.

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