My Story

I want to write down the story of my life. My perception of certain events that have shaped my world and the person I have become. Mostly, I want to put my life into words for my son. Growing up our ancestors stories were told and retold and passed down through generations. Because of the way my family has turned out, I can't really offer the same to him. He won't have anyone to tell him about his ancestors because he doesn't have anyone besides me in his family who is with him often enough to tell him things. He doesn't have aunts & uncles and brothers and sisters and cousins to pass stories around with. He has them, he just doesn't have the luxury of a close family and not for lack of my trying.

I cannot stress perception enough... My facts may be misconstrued because I am telling the story from my memory and the way I think things have happened.

I was born in San Bernardino California in July of 1978. My parents were a happy young couple who had already had my brother. My dad worked for my Grandpa at the Top Hat Cage Company in Fontana California.First we lived on Cherry Street and then we lived on Eucalyptus.  The house on Eucalyptus was pretty cool.  It was right on the road but there were two houses and a back apartment.  We also had a massive tree house my dad built even though we were so little we could barely get into it.  The house in the front was a friend of theirs and he had all of the luxury items of a bachelor pad.  The tapestries on the wall, the dark velvet furniture.  The leather and wood bar.  It was a fun place for a little kid because everything was so soft. 

Our house had a big living room a small kitchen and 2 bedrooms.  Our bedroom was huge and we had our own bathroom and our own beds. We were taught to tie our shoes in that house and brush our teeth.  The house was always clean and my mom and dad were passionately happy together. 

The apartment behind us is where some young guys lived.  I remember only going there once and they were all crazy drunk.  It was funny to me because they were being loud and crazy.

Our tree house was in a big tree that partially hung over the sidewalk outside our fence.  I remember sitting up there with my dad and watching people walk by.

We also walked to school back then. Our house was about 4 blocks from the school and my brother who was in 1st grade was my guardian when we walked to Kindergarten.  Could you imagine letting your 5 and 6 year old walk to school in Fontana these days?? No way!  About halfway through the school year a little boy was abducted near the school and his body was cut up and thrown into the canal that we had to walk over.  After that happened the older boy next door walked us to school.