November 2003: Meeting Bob the Bachelor/Shawn's Wedding

We went to Chicago for a visit. I heard that Bachelor Bob was going to be at the Borders bookstore on Michigan Avenue.  

I not only got to meet Bachelor Bob, but he also gave me a big rose. They had a vase of long stem red roses behind him and I asked him if I could have a rose. He said not only would
he give me one, he will give it to me personally. Oh boy, I was in heaven!  I walked around Chicago all day with the rose. At one of the stores, a clerk commented on it and I told her who I got it from. Then some other clerks heard it and we all talked about the show and all. They gave me real good service and were at my beckon call. I felt like a celebrity.

My mom and I each got ourselves an American girl doll that looks like us. I got the one with brown hair and green eyes and my mom got the one with blue eyes and brown hair.

We also got to see the Festival of Lights parade downtown. It was a beautiful night for watching the parade. The temperatures were in the 60s.

Then, we drove to Oak Park and had dinner with two of my old coworkers.

Sunday, we went shopping in Downers Grove. We stayed at a hotel in Downers Grove, too. It brought back alot of memories as I used to live out there for a year. I also lived in the city for 3 years. I am surprised that I remembered how to get around everywhere.


On November 23, 2003, we went to my friend, Shawn Young's wedding in Oak Park which was very nice. It was at the North Century Club. It's beautiful inside. I think it was a club for women back in the day. Shawn had around 80 guests at the wedding, so it was a small wedding. I got to see a bunch of my friends from Western there, so that was neat.

Today, we went shopping in Oak Brook and then came home.

October 2003: Health Department

I started working in the Health Department in October 2003.     I started out as a clerk in the STD clinic.   Wow,  that was far different than property assessing or market research.     I checked in clients for STDs, passed out condoms, and learned all about the different diseases.      At times, the subject matter was quite fun to joke around about.    

I met many wonderful people at the Health Department, such as:    Betsy Floyd (nurse), Terry Schrader (nurse), Helen Thomas (Immunization Clerk), Julie Henley (clerk), Jeanne Reenders (previous STD clerk, now at the Sheriff's department), Penny Boynton, Donna Syers, Tiffany Peterson, Jackie Balcom, Dawn Benkert, Linda Borgerding, Deb Wilson, Mary Young, Ivi English-Bene, Kathryn Kibbey, Joyce Rademacher (nurse), Milly, etc.         There are over 70 employees, so I can't list all of the names, but I have worked with most of them at one time or another.   

I have worked in the STD program, Vector Control (Dog Licensing), Food Safety/Licensing,  and Immunizations.    My favorite program has been Immunizations.        I have learned something from each of the programs, for which I am truly blessed.    

It hasn't always been the easiest departments to work in over the years, but I have met many wonderful people and learned so much.   
    

August 9, 2003: Volunteering at the Tall Ships Event/Matthew

This afternoon, I volunteered to work at the Tall Ships. I was dreading it before I went and wondering why I signed up to volunteer. When I first signed up to volunteer, I was so excited and then when the reality came, then I was thinking why did I do this again?? 

I worked at the West entrance by the YFCA and passed out the maps and answered questions for people. I think I was doing pretty well. My feet got tired after 2 1/2 hours. By 4 p.m., I decided to take a short break and this security lady came up and we talked a bit. She was telling me about how she had to work for 15 hours today and she was so tired. She said that she just came back from Marquette, Michigan as her sister was in the hospital for overdosing on tylenol.
I guess her sister took 48 pills. The sister had some kind of depression but none of the medication was working. I guess the sister had 4 kids and alot of health problems, too. Boy, some people sure have some messed up lives. I feel bad for them.

Then, I was talking to my neighbor whose son I used to take to the movies, ice cream, ride bikes with, etc, and she was telling me about Matthew going back up north to see his father this weekend. He was just in a car accident a week ago. I didn't know the whole story of the accident until today. Apparently, Matthew had quit his job in Tennesse which is good because he was doing some dangerous work where he was climbing polls to fix cables. He had no training
on this job and the foreman was a druggie. Matthew didn't like the job nor the apartment he was renting, as it was infested with cockroaches. Anyway, he and two of his friends were on the way back and on I-69 in Lansing and the friend driving swerved off the shoulder and the car rolled several times. None of them had seatbelts on and Matthew and one of the kids flew out the passenger door and landed by the woods. I guess the car hit 4 or 5 trees. They are sure lucky they are alive as most people would die in that kind of accident. This all happened around midnight. Then, he was rushed to the hospital as he had a concusion.
 

Matthew had a wonderful mom and brothers here in Muskegon, but when he turned 13, he decided he wanted to live with his dad up north. His stepmom up there was mean to him and so was his stepbrother. His stepbrother tried to drown him when he was a kid and Matthew swam across the lake to get away. So much happened to Matthew living up there.

Now he has a chance to start his life over and find a job here, but he decides to visit his dad this weekend up north and see his two friends before they went back to Tennessee. Apparently, he called his mom today to say that he was thinking of going back down to Tennessee. I am hoping and praying he doesn't go down there and stays up here and gets a job. His brother back here in Muskegon is willing to sell his truck to him for a good price and his mom said he could
stay with her as long as he would like. I sure hope he doesn't go back to Tennessee.
Matthew was such a sweet child and he would come to my house all the time and I would take him places and treat him like a little brother.  I invited him to the movie this past week, but he said he couldn't go because of having to put neosporin in his head, but that he thanked me for thinking of him.
He told his mom to let me know he wouldn't be in Muskegon this weekend as I was going to go over and play checkers with him. Please pray that he stays here in Muskegon and away from those people who treat him so poorly. I think he needs to be around some better people than some of the ones you find up in the boonies.

It breaks my heart to see a child treated like that and grow up thinking that is the norm.

I am sure thankful that I haven't had to go through things like that. I have always had people who cared about me and so thankful for that.

July 30, 2003: Gerald Ford's 90th Birthday

We went to the Gerald Ford 90th birthday (38th President of the US) celebration in downtown Grand Rapids today. It was alot of fun and a great experience.  They had some of the army singers, the F16 planes fly above after Gerald Ford gave his remarks, and then served cake and lemonade to everyone who came. His wife wasn't there as she was sick, but his daughter came with him.

He first arrived in a golf cart and came down the path. I am hoping my picture turned out as they came right in front of us. One of his sons plays a part on the "Young and the Restless" soap opera. I haven't seen him on in a couple of months, though.

It was estimated that 10,000 people came for the celebration. They thought only 5000 would come, so that is pretty good. He seems like a nice fella. I don't think a larger town would have had such a nice celebration for him. 

I really like Grand Rapids. I could see myself living there as it is a nice size town and close to family. Someday, I do want to be living in Florida, but for now, I do think that living near family is the most important. Now, when the snow comes, ask me the same question and I will say "Florida, here I come".

June 27, 2003: Hazel Wentzloff

I have all of my friends praying for Grandma and that her surgery goes well. I was scared when she said she had cancer and had to have her breast removed. I love Grandma very much!

A few days ago one of Grandma's good friends, Hazel Wentzloff, died. She collapsed in her

backyard. She didn't have any major health problems, so it was a shock. I was reading the newspaper at work yesterday and looked at the obituaries and was shocked to see Hazel's name in there, as I just got an email from her the morning before she died. Hazel and I used to correspond on email almost everyday, so it is hard for me to get on the computer and not see an email waiting for me from her.

She was a nice lady. I never knew why she and grandma stopped talking. Grandma and I have tried to figure it out, but no explanation.

Tomorrow we are going to Chicago for the Taste of Chicago festival and then coming home for the Commodore concert at the Muskegon Summer Celebration,  so it will be an exhausting day tomorrow.

March 15, 2003: More of Grandma Gonyo's Advice

If someone should hurt you and say a thing unkind. Remember what I write to you and keep these thoughts in mind. For everyone that makes you cry, there are three to make you smile. And a smile will last for a long, long time, but a tear just a little while.
Don't let someone who hates the world cause you to hate it too. Behind
the clouds is a Golden sun, and a sky that's full of Blue.
If someone said a thing that's cruel, don't let it get to you. Your achievements are greatly numbered, and your faults are very few. So if a certain person should act a certain way. Think of those who
 
Love You, and don't let it spoil your day! 
 
xxxxxxxxxx I saved this out of a church paper and I am going to try and remember it when I need it.

March 10, 2003: Another email from Grandma Gonyo

"Congratulations on passing the assessors test. I knew you would as you had to do so much studying and you worked so hard getting ready.
That counselor you talked to sounds very sensible. I notice in my life certain things that used to be so much fun cease to be so you move on to something else. I never envy anyone else because you find no ones life is perfect even if it looks like it on the outside. 

I always think of that story about the minister asking everyone to come and bring their troubles in a sack and they all did and they looked over each others and the minister said now take home whatever sack you want to and each took home their own as they found out theirs wasn't as bad ad the other persons. I may have not told it right but you get the idea. I see those movie stars and all the hellish times they go thru with their boyfriends running around etc - no one has it all. I think it is wise to keep this counselor available as it is nice to have someone when you need them. 

Thank you so much for the basket of goodies. It was a nice surprise. I hate to see you spend
your money as I would like to have you get all your things caught up. I think that will be the happiest day in my life is when you say your bills are paid up. If I am paying interest it drives me nutz. 

My neighbor was telling me here in the park there are a group of women they call themselves the Purple Hatters and they go out to eat and wear purple hats and dresses and seem to have a lot of fun. I imagine they are all widows.

I would like to have you find those single groups and meet different ones. You will never meet anyone unless you get out with groups of people like yourself.

I went with that group of gals on Sat nites and we had good times, You dont want widows but I know there are singles someplace but you have to get out there and find them. I always went with those married women then when I lost Geo. everything changed and I started hanging out with the widows like me. I had chances to date but at the time I wasnt interested. I had one very good looking guy who wanted to start a relationship with me and I like a fool said No at the time now
when I look back I should have taken him up on it but I wasn't interested so soon after I lost George. 

Yes life changes and the things that you enjoyed when you were younger are no longer of interest but as they say you have to Go With The Flow and change too. Dont get anxious. Did you ever notice when you are shopping and wanting to buy a dress you never never find one but when you aren't really looking you will run across just what you like. I think that is like life. When you are looking too hard you dont find anyone and then you think to hell with it, someone pops up. Good luck to a sweet darling granddaughter. I love you so much and want you happy but I sure wouldnt want you to hook up with a bummer.                     Love Grandma