Vincent

June, 1992

My sixteen-year-old grandson, Vincent, has been visiting this past week.  Vincent Michael Gonzales, son of my third daughter, Eileen, and ex-son-in-law Tom Gonzales, is my first grandson. I had the dubious honor of driving Eileen and her soon-to-be-born son to St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica. I was so nervous that Eileen almost insisted on driving! After we got to the hospital (about 11:00 AM) Tom arrived and went into the labor room with Eileen and Dr. Tweedy. Natural childbirth was the method of choice in 1976. Since I was already at St. John’s I decided to stay around for the birth. A wise decision because Tom was always  coming out to the waiting room to have a cigarette and asking, “Would you please go in with Eileen for a while?” I found it very difficult to watch my baby girl in painful labor. In the late afternoon Dr. Tweedy decided he would have to perform a C section. Grandpa Mike rushed to St. John’s Hospital and had the privilege of being the attending pediatrician at his first grandson’s birth.  By this time Tom’s mother had arrived to see her first grandchild. Since I had family at home to feed and care for, Eileen, Tom, and baby came to our house for Eileen’s recuperation time.

Vincent has a brother, Gerard, born 16 months later. Eileen became a single parent when Vincent was about 4. Divorce is really difficult for children. Vincent and Gerard by circumstances and a Santa Monica address for 10 years, were close to us and frequently at our house.

Now (1992) Vince is 16 and 5″9″. Typical for his age he is now in a Band. It consists of a bass, guitar, drums, and he’s the lead (and only) singer. No, thank the Lord, they are not practicing at our house. But yesterday he was singing along with the taped music of the Band. He was listening to the music on his Walkman. All I heard was a wailing sound! Truthfully I thought it was a cat fight outside!