November 11, 1993: In Memory of Grandpa Gonyo

Just before I had to go to work in the deli, my mom let me know that Grandpa Gonyo had died this morning down in Zephyrhills, FL.    Grandpa was having a hard time breathing, so Grandma was driving him to the hospital, when he slumped over in the car after having a heart attack.    They had just arrived in Florida the week before for the winter.   

I will always remember Grandpa Gonyo as a big card player at the cabin.  He loved to play solitaire.  He also loved to watch football on Sundays.      He used to own Gonyo's Radiator Service in Muskegon Heights, but sold it to Bill Monroe.     I remember one time I had made him a handmade pill chart as he needed a schedule. Grandma said he enjoyed checking off the boxes each day.      I tried to do small things for both of them to help them out. He was my first grandparent to pass away, so it was hard on me.     We decided we would go to Florida at Christmas to be with Grandma.

November 1, 1993: Stitches in Finger

I was called into work at the Plumbs bakery as one of our bakers, Kathy, who died last week of a heart attack at the age of 26, had a funeral which everyone from work was attending.    After I was at work 10 minutes, I accidently cut my left middle finger.   Helen Coyne called our assistant manager, Chris Hickman, who had the cashier, Penny, take me to the Hackley Professional Building for treatment.   I got 2 shots in my finger and 3 stitches.    I also had to get a tetanus shot.     

When I got home, I passed out Halloween candy to the trick-or-treaters.     Denise, Nathan, and Damian Goven came over to go trick-or-treating in our neighborhood.  I used to babysit Nathan and Damian.   

All of the other neighbor kids came over for candy, such as Joey, Jeff, and Kelli Ruthkowski, Kim Daugherty, and Stefani Balcom.  Bill Daugherty walked out on his job at Plumbs and got a new job at the Hearthstone.     

September 22, 1993: Michael Damian's Appearance

I stood in line at Musicland in Woodland Mall in order to meet Michael Damian, who played Danny Romalotti on the "Young and the Restless".  He also was a singer in real life.    Sunny FM sponsored this event, so Eric Anderson was there.   I got my CD signed by Michael and a picture taken next to him.  .

September 5, 1993: Grand Haven

Mom and I went to Grand Haven to see the ship, Nina, that was a remake of the ship Christopher Columbus took to the new world.    As we parked the car, we saw Eric Anderon hosting for 104.5 Sunny FM at the Grand Haven Beach.   

At 7 p.m., I met the Lawvers in the Kmart parking lot and we had dinner at Pizza Hut in Grand Haven.    I drove Jase and Adam back to their campsite at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park which was between Grand Haven and Holland.   Skip said that Chad might go to Eastern Michigan University starting the 2nd semester as he felt Michigan State was a waste of money. 

September 1993: Muskegon Community College

Many of my friends from high school decided to go away to a four year university.   My mom made a deal with me that if I went to Muskegon Community College for 2 years and paid for it, then she would pay the last 2 years at Western Michigan University.  I decided it was a deal I couldn't pass up.
I started classes in the summer of 1993.  My first class was Golf.     I figured that shouldn't be too hard and would fulfill my physical education requirement.     I have never liked sports or physical activity, so I wanted to get these classes over with as soon as possible.


In the fall of 1993, I started taking some of my pre-requisite courses.   I wanted to get a degree in Business, so took classes geared in that direction.    I did very well at MCC.  My GPA was 3.7, which was excellent. 


My Grandma Gonyo told me I should try and take the English class that her friend, Mary Hartman, taught, so I signed up.   I loved Mary.  She was so good with the students.   Mary said she enjoyed my writing, which is something I absolutely enjoy.   I am thankful I was able to have Mary Hartman as a teacher before she retired.


I continued to work at Plumb's Valu-Rite foods in the delicatessan through college, which gave me some extra money.      


I met some wonderful people at MCC, too.  I took Spanish 1 and 2 and met Anna Marie Muirhead (now called Anna Marie Martinez).    She lived in Holland and had a 4 yr old son, who was adorable.    I visited her quite often in Holland.    


I graduated in April 1995, with an Associates Degree in Business.    I went to the graduation ceremony with my grandparents and my mother.    I worked very hard those two years at MCC, so I could get into Western Michigan and finish my bachelor's degree.

August 6-8, 1993: Annual Camping Trip

I left in the morning for Benzonia, MI which was near Traverse City.    I stayed with the Gonyos, Klees, and Lawvers at the Vacation Trailer Park off of US 31.   Our lots were 90, 91, and 92.    On Friday afternoon, we went to Traverse City to Cherryland Mall.   We listened to Cheech and Chong on the way back to the campsite.  

Adam was looking for a wire for the grill. They didn't have one in the campground store, so we hopped the fence and went across the street to this store.

Played baseball with Adam with a broom and beer can.    Adam was letting gas alot as he had eaten so many cherries. It was so funny.

On Saturday,  we did water aerobics in the pool, using filled milk jugs.  

Then, we took Crystal Lake Rd to Lake Michigan.   I went swimming with them all.    Jase and Adam were looking for Petoskey stones.   Jo told me she has had diabetes since she was 22 yrs old.    She said that birth control had triggered the symptoms.  

Chad was going to Michigan State University in the fall, but didn't know what he wanted to get his degree in.     Rode back with the Lawvers. We listened to the Cheech and Chong tape which was so funny.   After dinner, we went miniature golfing at Crystal Falls Miniature Golf Course.  Jase taught me the right way to hold a golf club.   I got a hole in one.   

On Sunday, we had a big breakfast.   We went to the lighthouse in Benzonia.  It was built around 1853.  

July 1, 1993: Paul Patterson's Injury

The neighborhood kids used to always come to my house to hang out, as I always found fun activities to do like golf, riding bikes, getting ice cream, etc.     You could also call me the Big Kid on the Block.   
With permission from the parents, I took Jeff, Jason (neighbors of Matthews), Matthew, and Paul to D&B Golf Range in Fruitport to practice our golf swings.     Paul could hit golf balls 150 yards.    He was 12 yrs old on April 6th.   He accidentally stood behind Jason who was going to swing the golf club to hit the ball.    Paul ended up getting hit on the left side of his head with the club.   He fell to the ground and blood came oozing out in buckets out of his head. I raced to get help.  The ambulance was called.
I called Mrs. Patterson to let her know what happened. I was so scared to call her.    

He ended up being ok.   He kept worrying about the blood ruining his baseball hat he liked.   He had 2 staples put in his head.    He even played his championship baseball game later that day and won.