Habia Una Vez, or, Once Upon A Time…

Not too long ago, when things were the same but different, something wonderful happened in Southern California.  

A fairy tale took place among the Orange Groves. Not the ones you have read about or have seen on the silver screen. Not Snow White, nor Cinderella.  

But just as magical and every bit as special. 

This is how it was told to me… 

Years ago, before everything had been done, a rich man set off to create a special place. This was no ordinary man, however, this man had been blessed with the friendship of 3 fairy princesses.  

These princesses kept him safe, they kept him company and traveled with him day and night. Melody, Harmony and Alma were their names. 

The princesses gave him ideas, they inspired him. They supercharged his imagination, and gifted him Big Dreams.  

He was grateful for their company, and was always keen to listen to their advice. 

Always dreaming big, the man set off to to build a ‘Magical Kingdom’ where the oranges once grew.  

Thinking he had found the perfect spot, he gathered the princesses and went to inspect the land. They left the car for a walk around. 

It was a beautiful place. It was cool in the summer and warm in the winter. A nice breeze could be felt from the ocean, not too far away. 

The mountains stood strong and quiet and wrapped their shoulders around the groves. 

Excited about the location, the princesses began to play in the trees and grass. Other autos joined the ‘man’ and they began to take measurements, and eyeball the location for a great castle, and more…

As the men got to work, the princesses spread out about the groves, one of the princesses, Melody, encountered a small dog, and the two began to play.  

As Melody and the dog, ‘Ritmo’ explored, the sun started to set. The men packed up their work for the day, confident they had found a magical spot just off the California coast. 

Work began in the Orange Grove, and every day the man would visit, each time with more men, and more equipment. While they worked, Melody and Ritmo would create adventures in the small creeks, and breezy orchards nearby. 

Houses sprung up along the edge of the groves, and soon the once empty arroyo was a growing town, with a magical mountain taking shape, just like the rich man said it would. 

Part 2. 

The houses that replaced the groves were sturdy, attractive homes. They had nice gardens, small garages, young trees and were painted in pastel yellows, greens, and even pinks.  

Ritmo met a family in one of the new houses. He would play with the daughters and occasionally sleep on the porch during the afternoons when Melody was away. Sometimes, the family let him in and he would sleep on the rug near the fireplace as the winter approached. 

Melody would join Ritmo on his visits when she could. She loved the daughters. They were just like her sisters. One of the sisters was particularly kind to Ritmo, and Melody was inspired by her kindness. 

This sister, was named Abigail.  

Ritmo, Melody and Abigail formed a tight bond, and spend almost every day together.

At night Melody would return to her world. She would tell her sisters all about the beautiful young girl and friendly black dog she had found, and how they would explore the changing landscape of the grove together.  

With Melody by her side, ( or over her shoulder ) Abigail became a young woman and soon took a job at a nearby factory where many of her friends worked.  

Fender Guitars. 

Abigail settled in a special part of the factory, winding ‘Pick Up’s’. Pilar Reyes, who learned directly from Leo Fender taught Abigail to wind the Pick Up’s. Melody spent her days sitting quietly on Abby’s shoulder as she learned and worked. 

X: Define pick up X 

Abby and Melody loved winding pick ups. Abby would work and Melody would sometimes run off around the factory.   

She would dance along the fretboards as they waited to be finished, she would marvel at the colors of the paint shop and loved to watch the men and women ‘test the guitars’ after work and on summer evenings. 

At night. Melody would go back the magic world of the princesses. She would tell them about the music that came from the factory. She would sing for them the songs she learned and excitedly tell them about the people she met and the fun they had. 

Sometimes things come together at just the right time, sometimes is luck, sometimes its magic. 

Abigail and Melody made special guitars, some would say ‘magic.’ The combination of Abby’s tireless work ethic, her humility and joy created a sound that just could not be created anywhere else. 

The special thing about this time was the automobile.  

Cars had FM RADIO’s, and radios played MUSIC, and music can inspire people to create MAGIC. 

Fender created thousands of guitars, however the ones that Abby made were special, they sounded different, they had a sonic ‘glow’ 

Musicians like Bob Dylan, Jimmy Hendrix, Keith Richards, Buddy Holly began to play Abby’s pick ups. 

Cars with FM Radios criss-crossed the country, and the world.  

Electricity, Leo Fender, The Rich Man, and Abby and Melody combined to create a new sound, a sound that would wake up millions, make them dance, sing and smile. 

Music changed the world, it unified millions of people to push for equality and justice, and more just as important, to write love songs. 

A surprising number of musicians changing the world, held Abby’s pick ups in their hand as they played and crowds cheered. They sought her out, they wanted that magical sound.  

Many have said her pick ups sound like church bells, or waterfalls, others can not find the right words. 

Abigail became famous too, working humbly with Melody by her side. Abby ignored her fame, however, and simply enjoyed winding pick ups. Making people smile that she never met. There is magic in hard work, and Abigail Ybarra is the bedrock of that concept. 

Fender moved the factory many years ago. Abigail chose to stay in the breezy shade of the Magic Kingdom and raise her son and daughter nearby with pride.  

People talk in magazines and on the Internet about Abigail, she just smiles her special smile and winks knowingly. 

Melody, never content without an adventure began whispering in Abby’s ear not too long ago, she wanted a new student…

Abby spent her life teaching Aurora, her daughter, about hard work, integrity, and commitment, about going to work every day and how those things combine to create ‘Magic.’  

Recently she tought Aurora to wind pick ups, passing on her family gift. While Melody looks on, always nearby, never aging, always inspiring. Magically glowing. 

Some say Abigail is the ‘Queen of Tone’, others call her the ‘Reyna of Rock and Roll’, others, just as importantly call her ‘Mom’ or ‘Grandma’ or ‘Abuela,’ All of the above are true, Abby is all of those things. 

The way I see it though, Abigail Ybarra is more than those things, she is magic, kindness, and hard work, she is the Princess that Walt Disney missed when he created his Magic Kingdom. Her work has more power than Snow White and Cinderella combined, and every time a chord is stuck on stage, or your favorite song comes on the radio, Abby and Melody smile, and Ritmo wags his tail. 

‘ )