Asleep in Dad's Arms

Me and my dad Thomas Arcala Sr.  We were at my Aunt Jacki's apartment in Long Beach, California.  I was three years old here.  It's the only picture of me I could find of my dad holding me.

My Aunt Jacki had many holiday get-togethers at her home.  I still remember the scent of her apartment when she was cooking.  

My cousin Vickie is Jacki's daughter, and she had a rabbit in the bathroom, and a pomeranian named "Little Girl."  I used to chase Little Girl around until she would hide and snap at me if I put my hand near her.  

It is very rare to see pictures of my father holding me.  So, it was nice to have stumbled across this photo in my sister's album.

First Christmas 1977

I was born on November 28, 1977.  Here I am, with my mother in the red socks.  The woman next to her was our neighbor, Angel Lopez, and her infant daughter, Angie, whom was born about 2 weeks before I was.  This was at my family home in Long Beach, California.  

Angel became my on-again-off-again babysitter.  She had 3 other daughters, Brenda, Jeni, and Maryann, and a husband named Roman.  Angel barely spoke English, as Spanish was her first language.  My mom barely spoke English, as Korean was her first language.  

They were both pregnant at the same time and going through living in a foreign country, raising American babies.  Christmas was the time to showcase these beautiful babies they made.  Angie and Jeni became my good childhood friends, but we lost touch.