July 1992: Mexico Trip

Our trip to Mexico didn't start out too well.  We were flying out of Grand Rapids to Acapulco.    My  mom had a copy of my birth certificate, which the airline would not accept, so we had to reschedule our flight and my mom drove back to Muskegon to get my original birth certificate.    We had a hard time reaching Your Man Tours to let them know of the changes.  When we got to Mexico, our tour guide, Leo Hernandez, was at the airport to greet us.    We lucked out with him, as he was a great tour guide. Plus, his car was the only one that had air conditioning.    It was just us and him on the week tour which was so nice.   There were other people on the tour, but they were in other cars that didn't have air conditioning.   

We had a tour of Acapulco and stopped at Caleta Beach.    Then, we drove to Taxco, which was a smaller city, with many narrow streets.   We also went to Cuernavaca.

Went on some beautifully decorated boats called the floating gardens of Xochimilco.    

Leo took us around Mexico City. We saw the University of Mexico, Chapultepec Park, Metropolitan Cathedral, and Olympic Olympic Stadium in Mexico City.    We took a side trip to the Pyramids of Teotihuacan.   I walked up to the top of the Pyramid of the Sun. It started raining, so it was quite slippery walking up the pyramids. 

Experienced my first bull fight at the Plaza de Toros Monumental, which seated 64,000 people.  

One night, we went to find Elsa, who was an exchange student who stayed with my mom, grandparents, and aunt when they were in high school. My mom hadn't seen Elsa in years.   She owned a infant clothing store in Mexico City.  It was so nice to meet her and her grandson., Israel.    Her boutique was in the Camino Real Hotel. 

This was a trip that my mom had been wanting to take me on for years, as she had many fond memories of Mexico when she went to school in the summers at the University of Mexico.      She was a Spanish teacher for a few years before I was born.       She quit teaching after I was born, as she didn't like the profession.   She always had a heart, though, for the Spanish language and her times in Mexico.

April 23-25, 1992: Arsenic and Old Lace

The drama club, Players, put on the play, 'Arsenic and Old Lace' for three days.  I helped with paining and construction of the sets.    After the play on Thursday, I went to Pizza Hut with everyone.     On Friday night after the play, we all went to Joe Peter's house for a party.      On Saturday night, everyone went to Jenni Werner's house.  We ate pizza and watched "Saturday Night Live".    I drove Heather Mell home.   She lived on Millview at the time.

April 19, 1992: Easter Sunday

Today was Easter.  We ate at Aron's in North Muskegon with Harold, Cheryl, Dawn, Marianne, George, Kim, Wendy, Joy, Pauline, Mom, and Grandpa and Grandma Gonyo.  I must be really lucky to have family and friends like them to care about me so much.   I received a cross necklace from Harold and Cheryl, Mom, and Charlene.    I also go lots of money. Marianne gave me a funny book on the church, as well as an inspirational book.    I drove back to Grandma and Grandpa's house on Manz St. with Harold and Cheryl.    Then, drove out to Lake Michigan with Kim, Wendy, and Joy.   We started to walk on the pier, but it was too cold, so we ran back to the car.  

April 18, 1992: Easter Vigil at St. Francis-Becoming a Catholic

Easter Vigil was tonight.   It was one of the many events inscribed in my life's pages in my personal story book.  George, Marianne, Wendy, Joy, Pauline, Charlene, Steve, Kara, Grandpa and Grandma Gonyo, Grandpa and Grandma Thomas, and my mom were there to help me celebrate this special day.  

We went out to dinner at Doodles.  Our neighbor, Anne Ruthkowski, gave me $10 for my first Communion. Her grandson, Jeff, gave me an egg and candy.   The ceremony was gorgeous with all the candles lit.   At that ceremony, I told myself that this marked a new beginning and that I would try and be more confident and not so shy around people.    I made my first communion and confirmation.    

March 16, 1992: Signing up for the Newspaper Staff

I signed up for the newspaper staff with Mr. Reed.    He said I had to submit an application to him with a sample piece.    I gave him my paper on Hanauma Bay.  I came back later to see if I could join the staff.  He said yes and signed my course sheet and said you are going to be one of my strong writers.   I was so happy to get on the staff.    I owe much of my writing abilities to one of my teachers at the high school, who taught an upper level English class, with emphasis on grammar and punctuation.   Eric Anderson also signed up for the class, but he will be working on the computers and advertising. 

I went over to Eric's house after school and asked him about John DeWeerd and Tim Miedona, as I saw him hanging out with them.  He said that on Friday night he and John went around to parties and acted like they were policemen with flashlights and scared the kids away.  Eric said that John's car looked like a police car, so that's what they used.   John Deweerd put his car in reverse and hit Eric's bumper on his new car.  Eric got out and shined the flashlight on John and said you's better not do that again.    John was so sorry about it.  

July 2, 1991: Honolulu

We took a plane back to Honolulu for the day.    We spent time at the State Capitol and Iolani Palace.   We had lunch at a Jack-in-the Box, which were popular at the time.     At 9 p.m., we boarded the airplane for Chicago.  

July 1, 1991: Waimea Canyon

Took a tour of Waimea Canyon, which is the Grand Canyon of the Pacific.   Saw some more blow holes.   We had a gecko in our hotel room, which freaked me out.    We had the TV on and saw that Michael Landon had passed away.   I loved watching him in "Little House on the Prairie".