Every Memorial Day weekend was special to me, as that was when all of us Gonyos would go up to the cabin in the woods up in Baldwin, Michigan. My Mom, Dad, and I would go up usually on Friday night and George, Marianne, Kim, Wendy, and Joy would come around lunch time on Saturday.
We always had wonderful food up at the cabin. Grandma bought donuts, Bugles, ice cream, hot fudge, baked beans, hot dogs, hamburgers, etc. The only time it was quiet was when the food was put on the table and we were busy eating.
On Saturdays, the girls would go shopping in downtown Baldwin. Ben Franklins was our favorite store. I loved buying things in the office supply area. Of course, a trip to town was never complete without a stop at the famous Jone's Ice Cream. As we got older, we would also go to downtown Newaygo through the stores.
At the cabin, we had so much fun on the 'booney bike'. It was a 3 wheeled bike that my Dad and Grandpa would give us rides on all over the area. My dad loved riding that bike and we loved going on it to see the deer.
Kenny Baker and Peggy Katt would come to the cabin to visit and have dinner with us. There was always good conversation. When Kim, Wendy, Joy, and I were younger, we loved to jump on the full size bed on the porch. Also, we watched Saturday Night Live or movies.
The sounds at the cabin were special to me. The sound of the leaves in the woods was so comforting. I will always remember the creek in the floor in the kitchen and living room. The front door also had a snap when it closed.
One time we had a big thunderstorm that practically would scare you off your seat. The kids would fight over who would sit on the yellow stool.
Playing cards was another favorite activity to do at the cabin. We played "Kings in the Corner", "Fan Tan", "Memory", "War", "Solitaire", "Cribbage", and "Hearts". When we came Friday nights, we saw Grandpa Gonyo playing solitaire. His chair faced out the window, so he could see who was coming up the the 2-track driveway. The cabin was on a private drive back in the woods. The cabin was on Pere Marquette Road, which has now been renamed.
On Sundays, the girls would go to mass at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Baldwin. It was crowded there during this weekend. We always laughed at the priest wearing bright socks, jeans, and sandals to mass.
In the afternoon, we often went swimming at 'L' lake which was behind the cabin. There was a path that took us to the lake.
Grandma had this '8 Ball' that we used to ask questions to and it would give us an answer. It was actually a toy of my dad's when he was a kid.
We took many walks around the area. There was a bridge that we crossed over and we walked down the 2-track in search of deer.
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