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Meet my ABALONE GUY: |
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Who is this person whose photograph you now see??? What is the significance of this so-called ABALONE GUY in Cyfairchik's life, you ask??? Well, Abalone Guy is one of my closest friends, Americo! If you've checked out the Seniors page, then you have a little bit of an idea as to why Americo is important in my life, but if you haven't had a chance to venture out to that page, this page with allow you to get to know me a little better as you get to know Coy a little better... |
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But first, here's a little poem I wrote written especially for, and inspired by, my ABALONE GUY, McCoy: |
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Much like the tides that wash up and down the shores,
people come and go in and out of my life...
But much like the sea turtles
that escape their predators after hatching from their shells
because if the passing tide,
the people who come and go in and out of my life---
They are people who MAKE A DIFFERENCE;
These special people:
they impact and affect my life
in ways they never even considered to ponder,
in ways I never imagined possible...
I feel very fortunate to have had
these tides wash up and down my shore.
Who would've thought
these tides would've changed my life so much???
Who would've imagined that these tides,
motions of water most often deemed irrelevant,
would come to be such integral pieces of my existence---
pieces that have come to mean so much in my life...
There are very few tides in a person's life
that offer positive changes,
enabling them to be better capable
to deal with the sorrows, trials, and obstacles
life can throw down a person's path in life...
Words cannot begin to express,
with JUSTICE,
the appreciation I feel towards these tides---
the tides that have affected me so much...
Thank you very much for not only becoming
the wind beneath my wings,
my comforter during trying times and injustice,
the source of support during instances of self-doubt,
but most important of all,
that life-altering,
life-affecting,
TIDE
that washed up my shore...
the TIDE
that's slowly drifting by,
slowly on its way back to the open ocean...
THANK YOU:
for all the encouragement,
for believing in my pathetic existence,
for inspiring me,
for being
YOU... |
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....And now, THE STORY: |
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I've heard of Americo since I was in the 7th grade through the whole science fairs scene. I didn't know him, know him, as in personally, but I knew of him, and that he was a very smart guy who competed and won quite a bit at science fair competitions. When I was in the 8th grade and he was a freshman in high school we both went to the California State Science Fair Competition, but our paths were still yet to cross. I knew very little of him, except that he was one grade my senior, a member of the Student Advisory Board, and a student at Gompers. I guess when you get right down to it, Americo was just another name on the programs, probably just the way he saw me back then. Knowing him, he probably never knew I existed, except perhaps in terms of the name of the person who took Sweetpstakes runner-up... perhaps upon reading my name in the newspaper he might've thought I was a guy like many others... But anywayz, needless to say our paths wouldn't officially cross until September 1997.... |
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So there we were at the September 97 SAB meeting, the first of the year, the ELECTIONS meeting! I didn't know anyone. There were many tables, but it was clear to me that there were three cliques happening: the San Diego High group, the Point Loma group, and the "OUTSIDERS" group. Being new to SAB, of course I joined the OUTSIDERS, and that has made all the difference in the world! The table comprised of Americo Penaflor from Gompers, Karen Bloxham, Chris "KBOUGHB" Lutz, Mark Marshall, all from Patrick Henry, and lil' ole me from SUHI! I never thought I'd win, but alas! By the end of the night I was Micha Suarez, Student Advisory Board Secretary! |
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From day one I noticed that Americo, who at that point I mistakenly thought was Eli Landau, had a special quality to him. He had a charming personality, a great sense of humor, and he was extremely friendly. I knew that I wanted to be his friend, little did I know that nearly two years down the line he would come to mean so much in my life... For a while I would jes be this annoying/stupid gurl who'd leave messages on his answering machine regarding the SAB meetings, often mispronouncing his name like most people, but after that one meeting when he waltzed into the San Diego County Office of Education confidently sporting a book covered with Garfield wrapping, it was as though this light was put into high beams or something. After our "argument" as to who owns Garfield, of course it was ME, the next few months would evolve into this fun, young friendship. We played around with each other all the time at science fair functions, etc. I was glad that I was getting to know such a wonderfully interesting person a little better! |
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When my "Kuya" Amor and I had a fight over Sweethearts in December 97 I suddenly found myself without anyone to go with to the annual Sweethearts Ball sponsored by AIA. Amor and I were "supposed" to go together since we were both obligated to(since he was VP and I was Treasurer), but because of the fight which crippled our friendship, I was hopelessly alone and dateless. (Freakin Amor lied to me, etc...) So there I was with nobody to accompany me to Sweethearts. I did not really have much of a list to consult with pertaining possible people to ask to Sweethearts. I probably had 3 people considered, and I decided to go the safe way, my "Kuya" Rovil, that SUHI traitor, but alas, he would let me down too! So I considered asking Americo. Unfortunately, being the gigantic chicken that I am, I had no nerve to ask him since we didn't attend the same school and I've barely known him some 5 months. So I pretty much remained all by myself til the last minute when my best friend arranged to have her guy best friend Dwin accompany me. Needless to say it was horrible! |
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Time ellapsed... It was September 1998, jes a short while after the Annual AIA Leadership Retreat, etc. Once again it was brought to my attention that as a commissioner it's implied that I HAVE TO ATTEND SWEETHEARTS, etc... The exact same problem as last year surfaced: no one to go with... I wrestled with myself, thought, thought, thought, then thought some more... I once again had a short list, and once again, considering whether or not I should ask Americo... Fortunately, I had a lot more guts the second time around. |
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A day after the January SAB meeting I placed all my cards on the table, so-to-speak. I sacrificed my pride and risked rejection, etc.; somehow I found enough courage inside of me to ask him to do me the honor of accompanying me Sweethearts as a FRIEND (during my thank-you-for-the nice-gifts phone call!). Though McCoy would keep me on pins in needles for three weeks; that's about how long it took him to ask his GF for permission and get back to me with a response,I all of a sudden found myself no longer alone... The quote "to not risk is to risk even more" was further engraved in my mind and in my heart: my gamble paid off... Though it may not have been the smoothest possible outcome, Sweethearts turned out well. For someone so incapable of having fun, I have to admit that I had a pretty good time that one February night... Sure, we were like two hours late cuz we got lost, and all the other glitches that occurred, etc., but overall, it was worth putting myself on the line... [Too bad Somkhit couldn't find the courage I found... gurl, I hope you don't spend a LONG time wondering the what ifs, what could've beens, etc... You should've jes "grown the balls" and asked the guy... I'm old-fashioned jes like you, and it was such a huge internal battle for me to do the asking, but hey, ish da 1990s!!!] |
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Click [HERE] to go to Americo's Picture Gallery. |
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Click [HERE] to go back to the main page. |
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