The most beautiful romance of Catalina Ortiz

I first met Catalina Ortiz Provencio in 1990 when I interviewed her within sight of Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. She was 71. I was capturing memories of people who had lived in Chavez Ravine in the '20s, '30s, '40s and '50s --- before the City of Los Angeles made them move from the quaint, ethnic neighborhood.
I had seen her interacting playfully with her husband, Morro, so I made it a point to ask her about her first encounter with the man she would marry. Her response was magical. Some 20 years later, I interviewed her again. She was 91 at that time. Recently, she passed away. Her family asked me to produce a short tribute to the love she had for Morro, who died several years before the second interview I had done with her. You may have seen a shorter video I made. This one weds the stories that she told --- 20 years apart.

A kind of love that everyone should experience. A vicarious video.

Catalina Provencia agreed to talk about growing up in the Palo Verde section of Chavez Ravine before the city cleared the area of houses and people for what was supposed to be low-income housing. Instead, it became home to Dodger Stadium.

At the annual gathering of former Chavez Ravine residents in 1990, I noticed the most intriguing couple. Catalina was animated and gregarious.She stood four inches above her quiet, unassuming husband, Morro. Whenever their eyes connected, however, bolts of amorous energy seemed to dart between them. I knew that I couldn't leave without trying to tap into that energy.

During the "neighborhood" interview, I asked Catalina to tell me about her first encounter with Morro. The result is this jewel. Before I could share it with the world, I had to track down Catalina and first show her the 20-year-old video. It was a great excuse to capture, again, her electrifying and contagious spirit.




 By the way, Catalina has already agreed to another interview in ten years when she turns 101.

If I receive enough encouragement (comments here or on Youtube -- or direct e-mails), I'll begin posting more gems from the two interviews.