Click here for the Baker Breeze Sept. 05 Edition

HOW THEY MET                                 Chapter One: Angela and Andrew

This is the true story of how Angela and Andy met. At first glance, they seem to be just your regular, friendly, happily married couple. But, when you scratch the surface, and sit down and really listen to them you find a remarkable story of what made them who they are: of unusual courage, unwavering faith, drama, crisis, humor, resilience and romance.

Angela grew up in a Latino family. She and her family came here from Latin America when she was eight.  She grew into a beautiful, outgoing, bright little button with sparkling dark eyes and a dauntless sense of humor. In high school, the family tradition was one of structured chaperoned events within several close knit social organizations here in Southern California. Most of these events centered around dances which Angela enjoyed immensely since she loved to dance and was good at it.  Even within that structure and strict protection, the guys swarmed around her like bees to honey, attracted by her radiant confidence born of being well loved, having her own set of values firmly in place, deep religious beliefs, and well, basically, having her head on straight. Now, in her senior year of high school on one seemingly unimportant night, her mother convinced Angela to go with her while her mom fulfilled her obligation to help prepare some debutantes to be presented at the Beverly Hills Hotel in the Crystal Room. They could sit off to the side and watch it all.

Meanwhile, a certain dashing young pre-med student was convinced by his mom, who didn’t drive, to drive her to the same event because she, too, had commitments to help. This time, though, he would not be required to escort any of the debutantes as on other occasions.   Dressing only in a tux suit, but not the usual required tux shirt, he arrived at the same dance of destiny.  As fate would have it, his best friend’s girlfriend knew Angela. They were politely introduced and all of them sat at the same table off to the side. No big deal. Her first impression of Andy was how much she didn’t like him. Although he was charming, buying everyone a round of drinks as he sat down, she thought he was definitely too confident, not realizing at the time how very essential that factor would be in the life ahead of them. In the mean time, Angela, just to pass the time, tore some paper matches from a match book, placed them in an ash tray along with some cigarettes and set them on fire. The always careful Andy trained in all manner of safety, scolded her saying, “What are you doing? Don’t you have any manners? ” So now, she liked him less. Undaunted, however, he ask her to dance saying, “This is our song.”  She thought, “How dare he say that. How presumptuous.” However, fortunately for fate, they loved dancing together. Mambo, Tango, Latin, slow, all of it.  She was to him, “Full of life, fun, a wonderful partner”. Soon, he was required to drive his mother home, where he quickly changed into a tux shirt and raced back to the dance, breaking a few speed limits, to check this Angela out a little more. He asked for her number. She said, “It’s in the book.” He eagerly got it the next day from his best friend’s girlfriend. He invited Angela to the prestigious ROTC military ball. Off they went on their first date.. This time, she noticed his impeccable manners, his humor, and his intelligence. They had the whole world in common, it seemed.  Being a total non-drinker, each time he bought a round of drinks she managed to pour some of her drink into his, unnoticed, so that her mind would always be totally clear.  He kissed her good-night. She said she didn’t like his kiss so he tried it again. She didn’t like that one either. Confidence! They continued to date. Months later, during the Christmas holidays, at a caroling event, as his gorgeous voice rang out, she looked into his eyes and realized that, indeed, he was special, and was everything she’d ever wanted. She will never forget the thrill, almost like an electric shock that went through her, as she recognized that she was in love.

Several years of dating passed in which he graduated and joined the Air Force as an officer and she attended college. But her real dream in life was being a wife and mother of six kids.  On the pre-arranged day Andy went to her entire assembled family to ask for her hand in marriage in traditional Latino style. The women were excused from the room and the men cross-examined him thoroughly. What exactly were his plans for the future? How would he provide for a wife and future children?   And, even though Andy knew in his head, that by this time they all knew him very well, and loved him, his heart was pounding as he realized these men had his future happiness in their hands. After what seemed an eternity, and his answers were accepted by the group, the women were called back into the room. Andy, usually confident, but now trembling, stepped forward to present Angela with a ring. Aiming to kiss her, he missed, planted a kiss on the tip of her nose and promptly fell over a coffee table.

Where did this all lead? After they married, they traveled the world in his twenty year military career in the Air Force, had 5 children who loved the travel even after more than 20 moves,  survived his 113 missions as a pilot in Viet Nam, survived a crash from a B52 and a broken back, and now have 10 grandchildren in the Huntington Beach area. How, on earth, have they managed to be so happy? He thinks today that she is the most “caring, loving, wise, humorous woman on earth”. Her attitude was, and always is, that wherever he is, that is her home. As long as she has him and the kids, she is happy. You see, they were prepared by their deep faith and values to make their own happiness. Well grounded, confident individuals destined and custom made for each other long before they ever met. How sweet it is. Angela and Andy will celebrate their 49^th anniversary this winter.