So, Fay and I had several dates in the spring of 1939 in Tucson. I could see that she had developed an attitude of mistrust toward men in general. The few times that I became too fresh or phyiscal, she gave me a push and said, "No thanks! I just had a baked apple!"--and we both broke up in laughter.
However I do believe that she found my patience and restraint quite refreshing and intriguing after the "grabby" guys she had encountered in Washington, D.C. Sometimes it works out that way.
So June she and her family moved to Phoenix and I went off to summer session at U.S.C. in Los Angeles to take courses in Guidance and Counseling. We wrote and phoned a lot. The last of June she stopped a couple of days with her mother in L.A. enroute to San Francisco. I found out she had been dating a guy in Phoenix, an older man who owned a couple of lumber yards. Was she trying to stimulate me--or discourage me? I thought "Damn the baked apples! Full speed ahead!"
But they drove off to San Francisco and left me steaming in L.A. with my books, term papers, exams, etc. That what they thought! The Fourth of July was on a Monday, so on Friday I skipped a class and caught a bus at noon for Bakersfield. There I switched to a fast Santa Fe train. From Oakland I ferried to Sausalito where I spent what was left of the night at my aunt and uncle's.
On Saturday I put in much of the day "lurking" n the hotel lobby in San Francisco. As FAy and her mother checked in, I sat nearby hiding behind a newsppaer. Those two women almost passed out when I boarded the elevator, saying, "Well, here I am! And I've got a bucket of red paint in each hand!" We all had dinner together, and Fay and I took a happy stroll and even a cable car ride in the fog.
The next day I made a big hit by appearing with not one, but two, gardenia corsages from Podesta and Balducchi with red, white and blue ribbons for the Fourth of July. And Fay and I were off to Treasure Island.
The Golden Gate Interantional Exposition was held on a 400-acre island in the middle of San Francisco Bay. It had been created by dredhing up mod when the put down the footings for the world's two greatest bridges. It became a fairyland city of towers and gardens--sort of Tibetan or Shangri-La architecture with lots of terraces, waterfalls, and hanging gardens. Maybe the first large-scale use of subdued, concealed neon lighting. Hundreds of trees, and plots and beds of exotic plants, vines, and flowers from all over the world. Can you imagine the effect on Fay and me?
The scientific, agricultural, and industrial exhibits were stunning, including our first experience with television--an astonishing demonstration! International pavilions were dramatic and colorful, many from Asia and the South Pacific. Some great "scary" rides in the amusement area, and we were thrilled to hear Benny Goodman, King of Swing, and his clarinet. I sort of wanted to see Sally Rand do her fan dance, but Fay didn't. We learned that the sign "See Sally Rand's Ass!" merely referred to her appearance with a pet donkey!
So we stayed on into the night, dining on crab cocktails, hot dogs, and coffee with Fisher's delicious hot scones filled with blackberry jam. I believe we'd have been there yet, if the fog hadn't come in and driven us out!
On the cold, dark, and windy top deck of the ferry going home, Fay stonished me by saying, "O.K.! I'll wear your fraternity pin!" The time and place were right!