Bing Crosby to Barri Gòtic

19 years old, driving to work on a TV assembly line in South Central Los Angeles. Music radio in 1950 played Goodies before they became Oldies. One cold morning I heard Bing Crosby on a new record. As time went on and upon hearing other renditions, I came to realize that Quizas, Quizas, Quizas was, and still is, my favorite song. It is always on my radar. I keep a few versions on CD and in my computer.

Last week, in Barcelona, Julie and I were amblin' among the tourists that crowded the Barri Gòtic surrounding the historic cathedral. Circling around the cathedral on a narrow and crowded walking street, I began to hear some soft, but unmistakable notes of Quizas, Quizas, Quizas. It emanated from a small space beside the walkway.



I stopped against the church and let the tourists hurry by. I could barely believe my ears. The quitar notes were crisp and pure. The voice was soft, but perfectly attuned to the guitar and the song. It was the most perfect version of my favorite song that I had ever heard.

How had I happened to come to that spot, at that moment? Don't think serendipity; for me, this experience was bigger than that. Nonetheless, I dropped a coin in his guitar case and we joined the flow through the Barri Gòtic.