I MARRIED A DUG DUG
by MARGARET DE LA TORRE WILKEY
I was pulling Jorge out of hotel rooms (even one right next to ours), making up with great passion, going to the practices as much as he would let me. I think I tried to leave a few times, half heartedly, but Jorge did not want me to go. Then, in the beginning of 1966, I found out I was pregnant again.
By now the Dug Dug's were playing 5 nights a week at MIke's, plus (through Armando's efforts) also playing gigs in other parts of Baja. The money still wasn't good, but their name was really saturating the area. Their pictures were on flyers all over town, and they were becoming more and more recognizable, but it never really seemed to go to their heads. The only way this seemed to affect them was the following of people who would come and hear them play every night -- especially the American girls. I wasn't allowed into Mike's that often, but when I was, I could see the crowds growing and growing. There were American girls everywhere, and plenty of young Mexican men.
Armando had bought a car for the trip to Mexico City, a 1947 Plymouth with a huge back seat that he would drive. There was plenty of room for the five guys and their equipment, and I think there was someone following them in another car wiith amplifiers and drums. They would soon be heading for the Big City to make their mark on the music industry.
The day finally came when they were ready to go. I don't remember the exact date, but it was early in the morning. I was checked out of the hotel, and would not be traveling with the band. Jorge promised me he would send for me in Mexico City. Diane picked me up, and we met the boys on the outskirts of Tijuana to say goodbye. My heart was in my throat. I was going to miss Jorge so much, and miss the times with the band.
So there we were on a street just outside Tijuana, early in the morning, drizzle falling, the smells of early morning all around me. Here came the boys in this car that looked like something out of a B-movie. They stopped and got out, and we all started to say our goodbyes. Norma was not there, I believe they had broken up by then. Armando was going with another girl, she was there. The boys were walking on cloud nine. We all embraced, said our goodbyes, and the boys got in the car, with hair a flyin', smiles on their faces, and high hopes for their futures. I stood there and watched Jorge leave, not knowing what my future would hold, but knowing I wanted to be with him in Mexico City.
As he disappeared into the traffic heading away from me, I was already planning on how I would be able to follow. I turned and got in Diane's car, crying my eyes out, scared of the future, thinking about our past, not knowing about the adventure I was about to experience.
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