Happy Heavenly Anniversary

Seventy-eight years ago today, October 25, 1947, my mother and father were married in a quiet courthouse wedding in Downtown Los Angeles. Today would be their 78th anniversary.

They met earlier that same year when my mother was babysitting for her aunt Peewee. My father knocked on the door. My mother opened it.  He took one look and was smitten.  It was literally a whirlwind romance.

Their first official date was at the Avodon Ballroom on Spring Street in Downtown Los Angeles.  The accompanying photograph is from that night.

The Avodon Ballroom was a popular nightclub throughout the 1940's.  It was the Big Band era and this was one of the venues that hosted some of the big names.

My father was not a big name but he did sing there from time to time. Presumably, with the house band.

Back to their first date; they were enjoying themselves, along with a few friends when my father excused himself. My mother used that moment to go to the ladies room, or the powder room as they were sometimes called.

A few moments later, a young woman rushed into the ladies room, "Annie, Annie, he's singing!!

"What, who's singing?"
"Andy! Andy's singing, he's singing to you!"

She rushed out of the ladies room and there was my father, in her eyes larger than life, singing, "Embracable You" by Frank Sinatra. That moment is the moment  he won my mother's heart.

I heard this story so many times over the years, especially after my father's passing in 1981, that it is imprinted in my mind.

It was a good solid marriage but like every marriage they had their ups and downs but they stayed together. 

So,  Happy Heavenly Anniversary to the absolutely amazing man and woman; Andrew and Anita De La O, that gave their all to my sister, my brother and me.