BARB

It all happened around the Christmas season of 1990. I was working in a restaurant in LA (Checkers Hotel)when I met her. I saw her coming from the second floor down the marble staircase into the lobby. Soft beige colored walls and a floor of marble, slightly darker than the walls, surrounded her. She was tall, slightly long waving hair as she walked towards me, of course she wasn't coming to me. She was headed for the service door, which was behind me. I assumed that she was headed for the kitchen. I saw her and saw a familiar face that I could not place. Weeks after (once we started to get to know each other), I learned from her that her sister was a front office manager at a nearby hotel (Downtown L.A.).
Thus, the familiar face. I had worked in the same hotel a couple of years before and had known her sister briefly as is the case in large hotels.
Of course I admired her beauty, and as we continued running into each other, our eyes would cross and we would smile.
We began to go out to get a drink after work, or we would meet at other people's houses during a picnics or party.
We were young, mid twenties, no responsibilities. Somehow I have always been lucky in love. Here is this Amazon of a woman, blond hair, greenish eyes falling for someone shorter in stature than her. Of a different background; both socially and culturally. Not that I am putting myself down, but the contrast was there for all to see.
Initially I though it would be a fling. Never dreamt that we would marry 6 years later or that she would die from leukemia 11 years later.
At a Christmas party at my place before we started dating, she was there with friends. My roommate Mary, actually said that Barb and I made a nice couple and that I should marry her. To this I responded with a "yeah right"...
However, as we began to go out, not only for drinks, but now to dinner, lunch or any other event, we began to have stronger feelings. We went out of town a couple of times, she would cook at her place, which she shared with two other roommates. I was not much of a cook at that time, so it was always her who cooked. We also drove out to Palos verdes with a bottle of wine and a sandwich from a local place nearby. Slowly we fell for each other.

Eventually in 1992, we moved in together. I lived in South Pasadena then and she lived in Redondo Beach. We found a great apartment in Pasadena which was witness to many nights of bliss. Like newlyweds, we spent day and night together and enjoyed each other every minute and hour of the day. (Aside from those hours reserved for work and school)-Forget eating...
More to come...........