The Life of Alberto: Volume 1

By Alberto E. Baston

This book is about the life of Alberto. from his mother to my high school grad-nite at Disneyland. He is a special man with disabilities, diagnosed with both Cerebral Palsy and Scoliosis as a toddler. An aspiring writer, who uses an augmentative alternative communication device (AAC) to speak, he enjoys music, movies and computers. He currently resides in Irvine, California. This book spans his life from the day he was born in San Pedro, California through his graduation from Santa Ana High School, in Santa Ana, California. The book takes you through the humorous and memorable moments of his life. He loves his family and friends. Enjoy reminiscing with him. Alberto dedicates this book in loving memory of his grandmother Mamama (Maria Hena Diaz). It is a wonderful book.

Alberto Baston

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Oct 30, 2012
• ISBN: 9781479737017

Alberto E. Baston

This book is about the life of Alberto. the story from his mother and my born to my grad-nite at Disneyland. He is a special man with disabilities, diagnosed with both Cerebral Palsy and Scoliosis as a toddler. An aspiring writer, who uses an augmentative alternative communication device (AAC) to speak, he enjoys music, movies and computers. He currently resides in Irvine, California. This book spans his life from the day he was born in San Pedro, California through his graduation from Santa Ana High School, in Santa Ana, California. The book takes you through the humorous and memorable moments of his life. He loves his family and friends. Enjoy reminiscing with him. Alberto dedicates this book in loving memory of his grandmother Mamama (Maria Hena Diaz). It is a wonderful book. Alberto Baston

Book preview

Chapter One

My Mother and My Old School and Angel

Cuba was a beautiful island before Fidel Castro took over Cuba in 1959-1960. Before Fidel they had a dictator his name was Batista. Cuba has beautiful beaches. The ocean looks deep blue. There were a lot of tourism in Cuba, beautiful casinos and they have good music. When people go to Cuba they had a very good time. My grandparents were living in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba. They were a happy couple and got four kids. There were 2 boys and 2 girls. They have a very nice home.

My mother Tessie Diaz was born on January 30, 1945 in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba. She was the youngest daughter of my grandparents. I feel sorry for my mom. She had to leave her country because of Fidel. In 1960, they moved to Miami, Florida. She graduated from high school in 1964. She took art classes in Miami Dade Colleges. I feel happy for her. She was a good artist. In 1969, she got pregnant. In 1970, she moved to San Pedro, California, with her aunt Bobbie and her family.

On July 27, 1970, my godmother Ana Maria took her to the Hospital. Then, at 9:00 pm, I was born. I was a premature baby. My name is Alberto Enrique Diaz. I had a bad skin infection. I stayed at the hospital for 2 months. Later, I got to go home.

My First Christmas eve, my mom dress me with a little Santa’s suit, and with my left hand, I tried to reach for my Santa doll. We have pictures of that moment. I was sitting in a little toy stroller and I look like another Santa doll. One month later, my mom gave me a bath in the baby tub. I peed in the tub, my mom laughed. This was my first accident in the tub. Someone took a picture. It was very embarrassing.

I was 2 years old when I was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. I started wearing a brace for my scoliosis when I was very little. I remember it was uncomfortable. I had to go to have it adjusted every three or six months.

In the 1970’s, I was three to six years old. I couldn’t eat by myself. I thought I was a big baby and was wearing pampers. I remember my mother taking me to nursery school. My mother left me. I was crying and not being a good boy. Then I went to Harlem Shoemaker’s Elementary School in San Pedro. I sat in a wheelchair at my school. I couldn’t walk yet. I hated therapy. The lady took my clothes off for me. I wore underwear or pampers. I felt chilly. I did exercise and walked with a walker. I had many nightmares about school.

Then I was in the Christmas show. I was a little elf on the stage. I found my mother in the audience and I started to cry very hard. I wanted to go to my mother. I think Cuban boys always cry at the first show on the stage.

My mom’s aunt came to visit from Florida. She had a blue hair and was very funny. I couldn’t speak and she wanted me to say, Cono (is a bad word in Cuban Spanish) but she was determined for me to learn the word. Until I learned to say it. It took her a few days, and finally I said it. Now I often say it.

In 1977-1980, I was getting better. I learned to read, sing, do math and enjoy nature. I played my first baseball and different polo (hockey style with a stick and ball) games. I had good friends. My friends’ names were Amber, Jose, Eddie, John and Wally. My PE teacher taught me to dance country and rock and roll like in Fame and do gymnastics. I had a gymnastics show. I was doing my feet stretching, roller over and climbing on the bead and then my hands went up. I was very good. I remember it. I won first place. I was so excited. But, I like dancing better. I was like in Dancing with Stars.

Later, I went on a field trip to the Hollywood Chinatown Theater. My mom dropped me at my school. I was in the back the blue truck with my teacher. We went to the theater and we saw Star Wars for the first time. It is a science fiction movie. I loved it. My favorite character is R2-D2. It was my favorite movie. I was wearing the legs cast, because I had feet surgery. I’ll never forget that moment.

I had an organ in my room. I learned to play an organ by myself. I felt joy to play the organ. It was my first hobby. I was quite good at playing Happy Birthday. I wished to be a next pianist like Liberace.

Later in my school, my PE teacher wanted me to swim in the pool inside the building. The water was very cold. I was freezing! I thought I would never go swimming again. It was my last time at that pool.

In 1979, my mother and I shared the bedroom in the apartment. It was a small bedroom. A very strange thing happened in the middle of the night, I woke up. I saw a flying green angel over my mom. My mom was sleeping. The green angel looked like Peter Pan or Gabriel the angel. The angel gave