Return Trip 1967
By Calvin Luna Balli
3-5-14
My father's 3 year military assignment in Quito, Ecuador was coming to an end but we kids hated to leave since we were departing from the adventurous jungle and volcano paradise we grew to love. In 1967, my family was heading back to a turbulent time in the states. I was 14 and grooving to the sounds of The Animals, Kinks, Donovan, The Rolling Stones, and other awesome rock groups of the era. My brothers and I loved the mod look and fashions. We wore Beatle boots, bell bottoms, paisley shirts with wild printed ties, and cool patent suede shoes. Mom kept Sears and Roebucks very busy since we had to mail order modern items from the states. It was a cool time in history with the British Invasion going on.
We sadly left Quito airport saying goodbyes to my best friend Frank Borras. His family and several others including Simone Oravec and the Mitchell family were there too. My brother, Arthur's bandmates gave us a final farewell with a quick song. I cried and cried as we hugged our buddies. We flew Panagra Airlines to Panama, Miami, New Orleans and then to Houston Hobby Airport.
In Texas, our family stepped off the plane, went through customs and were greeted by my Aunt Emma and her three kids, Ricky, Stella and Beatrice, and several other well wishers. They laughed at our hippie styles and talk; in some ways, we were more hip and up with the times than they were! We all rode in a huge sedan and headed for Texas City. Looking out the car window, we were in a culture shock after so many years traveling the world and South America's slower pace! Our Texas cousins told us about all the new changes in the states such as technologies and music. They introduced us to American fare such as Moon Pies, my very first taste of Dr. Pepper, and a real hamburger. We arrived in Texas City and stayed at Grandma Delfina's house who always greeted visitors with a big pot of beans and warm homemade tortillas. All my cousins, aunts and uncles excitedly dropped by to say hello.
My brothers, Arthur and David joined me upstairs to groove to the sounds of American music records that my cousins had. Cousin Stella spun the turntable and introduced me to the queen of soul music, “Chain, Chain, Chain...” Aretha Franklin!!!! We had never heard of Diana Ross, The Temptations, Otis Redding, Jackie Wilson, James Brown or any of the other Motown royalty. We all danced for hours sharing both British and American moves. Thank you Ricky, Stella and Beatrice for introducing me to soul music. I haven't been the same since that unforgettable time at Grandma's house! They just don't write music like that anymore. But we lived it!! Back then, you could only hear these great tunes on a radio, record player or a live concert.
Exhausted after traveling, dancing and visiting, we all turned in to bed. When all was quiet in the house, the silence was broken by a loud bout of flatulence by my Aunt Theresa. We all roared with laughter!
Often, we don't realize at the time how memories like these are everlasting and so important to our lives. It was a respite in my mind during the tumultuous times we came back to in the states such as the civil rights movement, the blatant bigotry, and the shame people put on one another. The rock music of the sixties and Motown brought us closer together...one song and dance at a time.