My Life Story Thus Far Act 1: My Childhood [1982 - 1991]

I decided to write on here about my life since it's pretty clear to do that since I haven't really ever written about all about me. So this is a shot. I will warn you know that you will see a different side of my family and of me. While some things on here I will still keep to myself here, I will share whatever I feel is needed. So let's see where I start off here.

I'll start with my parents. While many think that I'm Mexican/Italian/Irish, the truth is that I'm just Mexican with a hint of Irish thanks to my parents. My mom at the time was in Mexico City working as a teacher for ESL out there. It was at that time she was there that she met my biological father. I don't know too much about him except that he's a chemical engineer. After some time, they got involved and as such I was conceived. It was during that time that I was growing in my mom's womb while she was seeing my father. She was told by many, including the doctors that I was going to be a girl. Guess they got that wrong. I was born at 7 months and as such was considered to be premature in Mexico City. It was during that time that my mom was scared because she didn't know what to expect. I was born not breathing at all and the doctors worked hard to bring me back to life.

After I began to breathe, I taken to the NICU in which I stayed for a few months there until I was ready to go home. It was during that time that my family was praying to see how everything turned out. After the time of being in the hospital, I went home finally. It was around the time in the hospital that my mom decided to give me the name Rene which means rebirth. After I came home, my family saw me and I was baptized. It was during my baptism when my grandfather decided to give me my middle name Antonio to have his middle name as well. During the first few months, I was really close with my family down there. I had 2 second cousins who were around my age which was cool and I got along with them pretty well in that time.

About a year into my life, my brother was due to come into our family and grow. It was about a year after my brother was born in which my dad disappeared from my life. From then out, my mom began to date a guy who soon became my first stepdad. I don't recall too much about him. He's a bit of a blur but can't complain for now here. It was during the time this family started up, I began preschool in Mexico City for now which was fun. Soon it came the time to head up north to be with my grandpa since he was going through cancer. It was hard to see him dying on us. It was in January 1, 1987 in which my family and I rushed him to the hospital but he died later on. My mom stayed here for a bit after the death to earn some money but we ended up staying after my first stepdad decided to commit suicide.

I soon started my schooling in St. Micheal's the Archangel Parish in the South Side of Chicago, the grade school that my mom and aunt went in their childhood. It was in the same time that we lived in the apartment that she lived in with my grandma, aunt, and uncle. As I was growing up in that house, I made some really good friends there who I got close to but yet at the same time, lost touch as I moved (coming in part 2). I went through that school from kindergarten up to second grade.

It was during this time that my mom soon worked at South Chicago Hospital (now known as Trinity Hospital) which meant that she had a 9-5 job along with my uncle who worked at the Jay's potato chip factory on 95th and Cottage Grove. So after my brother and I finished school, my grandma would pick us up or we would walk with our friends (the eldest was my age and her brother was in same grade as my brother). It was a great time for the few years. In 1989, it was clear that I met the guy who would become my new stepdad and as such in my eyes, became to me my dad. My mom met him as he was teaching her how to drive. It was nice and she got close to him. After some time, my brother and I hung with them. I recall one winter in 1989 (or maybe it was in 1990) when he took us sledding at Lincoln Park. It was there that he pushed me and my brother into a tree. We knew he was a bit of trouble but at the same time, it was cool to see him caring for us. It even while walking through Lincoln Park Zoo in which we bonded.

In 1990, a lot went on for me here. Firstly, my cousin Aymar was born in February. He was a cute baby (still is a good-looking kid even though I think he acts a lot like me). So the house got a bit noisy but still it was a lot of fun. Another event that happened was in the summer when grandma, brother, and I went to Mexico and we visited the different spots in the country. Around that time, my mom stayed up north since she couldn't get the time off. So the three of us went down and had fun. We started off in San Luis Potosi and saw her sister-in-law. I recall the town as being a bit small but still a nice place. It was a great time since my brother and I played with some of the kids in the neighborhood and also how my aunt would give us some sweets from the shop. From there, we went to Mexico City and spent some time there too since she knew a few people who we stayed for a day or two. It was from there that we went to Orizaba in Veracruz to spend time with her sister and her grandkids (the one grandkid who is my second-cousin is still my age while his sister is a year older). We stayed there for a few weeks in which we had fun. It was also where we got to see my cousin get baptized and be part of the celebration since my uncle has his family out in that town. Towards the end of the trip, we went back to Mexico City and stayed out there for a few days and mom came out to get us back home.

There was one thing that sticks out in my head that I can't forget to this day. We were at the airport heading home. I recall that before we crossed over into the terminal. We were sitting there for a few and my mom brings my biological dad over to us with his mom. I got to meet him for a few and looking back at that moment, I can see how in some ways I do look like him with the long face and the eyes. That was the last time I saw him. I wish that I could meet him now just to know him some more. That way I know about the other side of my family in some ways but I know that destiny will have something in store for me in the future. When we got back, I recall starting second grade and there were other big changes happening in my family.

My mom was marrying her instructor, my new stepdad who in my eyes is my real father, and our lives were going to change. I recall meeting his family and the nervousness that I had for a bit. Actually, the night I got to meet his parents (my step-grandparents who I ended up considering to be like my real ones), I introduced myself to them and called them Dave's Mom and Dave's Dad. It was after my grandpa performed a small ceremony in his house that I said I will start calling you grandma and grandpa. It was a great time to meet him. As such, my parents wanted for me and my brother to finish the school year where we were at and then move with them in the summer to live as a family. I recall that at the end of the year, I had to say goodbye to my friends then. It was sad to say goodbye but I had the hopes that we wouldn't lose touch with one another. For awhile that was the case but then we did lose contact.

That's Act I of my life here. Act II will entail my times at Mount Carmel and the starting years of becoming a family. Guess that's all I will say for now. Take care all.