Dr. Gatell's Infancy Period

Me at 3 months, just checking-out my environment ! Believe it or not, I remember remembering when I had days in total darkness - a time when there was no light. I remember just being in a state of quit warmness and just thinking. Maybe, this was actually memories of being in my mother's womb !
 

This photograph is of the business building that stands at the site of the old St. John's Hospital in Long Island City, Queens, New York, which was my birthplace.

Here I am at age 8 months in the arms of my favorite aunt, Tia Sole ! She was the love of my life second to my Mother ! I was bad though - I actually remember calculating the likelihood of hitting my Grandmother in the forehead while she slept on the sofa with my half-filled plastic bottle. Then, I remember her receiving the calculated blow from my playpen. I remember feeling a momentary sense of total satisfaction and power after hitting my target - waking her right up. Lucky for me, my Grandma was forgiving and later brought me an in-door plastic horse to rock-on while watching television. 

I had it made with all these very loving women - being the first born, the first nephew and the first adorable grandson. My father was no competition as he worked long-hours. 

My family just could not sleep too close to my playpen with all the toys that could be potential projectile weapons.

The second picture shows my father and I, 44 years later, in front of the apartment I lived in during the first 2 years of my life, Long Island City, Queens, New York.

The garbage bags gave the picture a very special City living effect. Note however, the old neighborhood remains relatively safe as there are still no gated-windows to keep the criminals out.

According to my Mom, I was always a smiling and happy baby...always enjoying a good joke too.

Now at 10 months, I had to start walking to catch up with the big folks.

Here was the rest of my extended family - from Left to Right: my aunt Tia Lupe, my Mother "mommy", my Father "Daddie", my aunt Tia Sole and Uncle Frank (Tio Francisco). Then, below are my two favorite cousins Richie on the far left and Frankie on the far right.  I must have been sleeping here in August 1957 - I was only 8 months.

Here at 8 months, my favorite past-time was playing on the swings at the local neighborhood park...in fact, I still have a scar on my right eyebrow after forgetting (or not knowing) that a swing returns to you after pushing it ! I guess I was humbled by God after my bottle-throwing-days just 2 months earlier.

Then, here I am 44 years later (12/29/2001), on the same swings in the same Long Island City Park in Queens, New York. Time flies by, doesn't it ?

Here we are at Niagra Falls, N.Y. at 11 months after my parents honeymoon here. Here is my aunt hogging me again. Where's mom ? I am getting a little uptight.

Here I am with my first attempts at flirting - this little blonde actually looks like my wife at the same age - my destiny ! There is my cool, happy and proud dad. Born in 1929, my dad was only 28 years old here. 

My mother was 9 years younger than my dad - only 19 years old when she had me ! Here, she is just 8 months post-partum - not bad huh ! I was a very lucky baby.

Newly weds...ahhhh !

Here I am at 12 months on my plastic horse - a gift from my maternal Grandparents. I rode until I fell asleep.

Here I am at 16 months, still on my horse. Still riding !

Here are my young parents posing with my plastic horse. They were so grateful to have a full-time live-in babysitter while busy with other things that newly weds do.

Here I am at age 1 in January 25, 1958 in the far right with my "Uncle" Indalesio, married to my beloved Tia Sole (far left). I later witnessed (on one of my brothers), that this sleeze-bag "uncle"( by marriage only), liked to touch little boys - but I did not remember any trauma to me per se - who knows, I may have enjoyed the massage at such a young age or I may have had an itch that I did not mined being scratched. He finally just abandoned my aunt several years later (I am not surprised). He was just an old sleeze bachelor pediaphile that my aunt picked up by mistake. Next to my Aunt Tia Sole, are my Uncle Frank and Aunt Tia Lupe - who is holding my new little cousin Johnny. My mother and father are next to them - and, of course, Richie and Frankie are up to no good - eyeing my Birthday gifts.