I MARRIED A DUG DUG
by MARGARET DE LA TORRE WILKEY
I had become friends with a Mexican girl who was going out with one of the Dug Dug's -- maybe it was Armando, but truthfully, there were so many women in and out of our lives, it was hard to keep track of who was with who. I knew her address and so I traveled there, got out of the cab with my bundle of blond baby, and knocked on the door. She worked in a bank, and thank goodness she was home on her dinner break. She opened the door, took one look at me, held me in her arms, and welcomed me into her small home. She told me I was welcome to stay as long as I wanted, so I set up a little area for the baby and me, and settled in. My emotions were leaving me exhausted. I couldn't eat and felt sick all the time. But I never gave up on caring for my baby -- he was all that I had.
A couple of days went by and I was starting to feel a little better. While staying with this girl, I started making a new circle of friends. She seemed to know everyone, including a lot of people who were members of other bands. I was kept busy, but still my heart felt like a dead weight in my chest. One regular visitor seemed to be interested in me. Maybe it was a pity factor, I don't know. His name was Heinz Peters and he was very kind to me, and brought food for me and Jorgie. His parents had come over to Mexico from Germany during the war, and he had been born in Mexico. He had blue eyes and long, wild, dark hair. I was lonely, I was angry and I needed someone to make me feel human again. Heinz and I got to be very close -- never intimately, but there were occasions where we would sit together, kiss, relax, and just try to enjoy the moment for what it offered us.
Then one day, we were all gathered together in the living room of my friend's home and there was a knock on the door. I recognized the knock and jumped up. My heart was beating in my throat. The door opened and there stood Jorge. I just stood there frozen in my tracks. He, on his own, actually traveled across town to see me? He asked to talk to me outside. I was stunnned. Was he coming to see me? Or was it for Jorgie? I walked outside, not knowing what to expect.
Jorge told me he loved me and wanted me to come back. I was very reluctant. I really wasn't ready to jump back into the hell my life had become, and told him so. Then, he actually got on his knees and begged me, with tears in his eyes. Here he was, in the middle of Mexico, horns honking and people yelling all around him, the door wide open so everyone inside could see him on his knees telling me how much he loved me and Jorgie. I was shocked to say the least, but also very hopeful, thinking maybe he will change, maybe this is the turning point I had been praying for.
I finally gathered up Jorgie and my few things, and went with Jorge. He actually took me out to eat at Dia y Noche, one of my favorite restaurants. We talked and he seemed almost like the Jorge I fell in love with in Tijuana. He talked of our future together, and the plans he had for us. The band was going to make a movie with Angelica Maria, which meant we would be financially better off. Their song "Chicotito Si, Chicotito No" had been released by then, and was well received. We went back to the hotel and all the band members were there to greet me. The girl from the States was gone, at least for now, and Jorge and I went back to our room with our baby to try to put our relationship back on track.
In the next few days it was announced that there was a trip to Acapulco planned, where they had a month long engagement. I still wasn't allowed to go to the gigs they played in town, but really wanted to travel with them to Acapulco, not only to be with them, but be able to see the Pacific Ocean again. I was raised around the beach scene and missed it very much. Luckily, my dream came true, and when Jorge told me that I was indeed welcome to come along, I couldn't believe my ears. So I made plans to take the bus over with the band. I don't think I even owned a bathing suit, but I'm sure he wouldn't have allowed me to wear it. Jorge also didn't allow me to wear make up or shave my legs -- he thought it was improper. I must have looked like a refugee, and in some ways, I was!
So the big day came when we all traveled down to the bus station to board our transporatation for the five-hour ride to the Jewel of the Pacific, Acapulco. There, waiting for us, in a filthy station, stood The Bus. It was probably about thirty years old and had no air conditioning and no comfortable seating, but initially we didn't care. That soon would change! We all piled into this bus, with Armando, Genaro and Jorge carrying their guitars, and Jorge carrying our baby. I sat down next to the window so I would be able to see the beautiful scenery along the way. We had our luggage above us, and I carried a plastic sack filled with a few clean diapers and a bottle for Jorgie. It was already getting a little warm on the way out of the city, and we tried to get comfortable for the ride ahead.
We knew we were in trouble when we turned off the main highway and started down the back roads. Suddenly, we all turned and looked at each other in horror. We looked ahead of us and saw what appeared to be a palm leaf out in the road. The bus came to a stop, and out of the trees came a woman carrying a crate of chickens, and she got on the bus. Needless to say, this went on for quite a while. The closer we came to the coast, the hotter it got on the bus. Jorge reached over to open the window more for me, and the window fell out into his hands. We all burst out laughing at the ridiculous scene of the Dug Dug's traveling on what appeared to be the peon express!
By the time we reached Acapulco, nine hours later, we were all ready for showers and a good meal. we piled into two taxis and rode to our hotel, another Hotel Majestic. It was on the bay of Acapulco on what appeared to be a penisula. We all checked into our rooms. Jorgie was such a good baby, we had no trouble with him. Jorge took him outside to the bay and dipped him into the water. Jorgie loved it. Then out came all the other guys, and we all went swimming and had a great time. The room was very clean, and facing the bay. But there was no air conditioning. This was in November, and thankfully the weather wasn't as humid as it can sometimes be over there. I think we stayed there for about a month. Jorge would play at night and we would sleep part of the day. Then all of us would gather together and swim in the beautiful, green waters of the Pacific. Although I never had the opportunity to hear them play, I knew that their stay there was a successful one. It was also one of the best times we had together as a family.
i
ii
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
|
