5 Things You Don't Know About Me

1. During my senior year of high school I was the JROTC Battalion Commander of three cross-enrolled schools. As a freshman, JROTC Private I set a goal of becoming Battalion Commander my senior year and, although I went to four different high schools (due to being a military brat), I succeeded! I had so much fun. My Junior year I was the Drill Team Commander and I LOVED that, too. I loved to compete. I learned so much about myself through those experiences. I wouldn't trade it at all.

2. I once attempted to water ski on a beautiful lake nestled in the mountains of Zell Am See, Austria. Let's just say...it was the first AND last time I attempted to water ski. In the end I settled for a trip behind the boat in a big inner tube.

3. During my Freshman year at the University of Tulsa I was invited by the Student Association president (a senior) to be his date for the university's formal Centennial Celebration. It was taking place at the Adam's Mark hotel in downtown Tulsa and would be attended by distinguished alumni, faculty, and guests. We were the only two students invited. I decided to have a martini from the open bar and, because I was only eighteen, my date instructed me to say I was a senior if anyone inquired.

As it turned out, my place card had me seated directly next to (then) Congressman Steve Largent, who had attended TU, with my date on my opposite side. It wasn't long into the meal before the pleasant Congressman was striking up a conversation with me...one of the first questions being, "So, Tonya, what year are you in?" I fibbed, as instructed, only to find out that the dear Congressman had majored in the same subject as me. He launched into talk of courses and professors I'd barely heard mention of. I was sooo very stuck. With the help of friendly interruptions by my, very nervous, date we stumbled through until at last the subject was changed. To this day I wonder if we really pulled that off or if our Congressman was just gracious enough to let us slide on by. Phew...was I glad when that was over!

4. I am a fugitive from justice. Really... but let me explain.

It was my junior year at Frankfurt American High School in Frankfurt, Germany. My friend Anna and I had stayed after school and somehow missed the ASA (after-school-activity) bus. This was a problem because we lived in Darmstadt which was between 45 minutes and an hour from Frankfurt. It was already dark and we had to get home. Anna had a plan. I followed it...and it was downhill from there.

She said we should take the Bahnhof (the major train system in Germany) and, since we had no money for fair, we should hide in the bathroom when the ticket taker came around. She said she had done it before, though she probably hadn't really, and I saw no alternative so I agreed.

It didn't work. He waited patiently for, what he must have assumed was, one passenger to come out. When that didn't work he began banging on the bathroom door and demanding it be opened. Just before entering the restroom Anna had handed me a wrench (I DO NOT know why she had a wrench, but she did), and she had grabbed one of those devices intended for breaking a window in case of emergency for herself. She said that if we were caught we would stay in the bathroom until the train stopped, open the door, threaten the ticket taker with our weapons, and make a break for it.

Well, we were caught. Since I hadn't had the good sense to do it earlier, this was definitely the point where I should have said, "Anna, you are crazy!", laid down my weapon, and accepted defeat. But I didn't. I followed through with the lunatic scheme.

The shocked ticket taker backed out of the way of our upheld weapons and called for the Polezie (police) as we made our break. Lucky for him (unlucky for us) there were two patrolling the Bahnhof station very near our chosen exit and we were quickly apprehended, unarmed, cuffed, and nearly dragged to the polezie station. A couple more polezie showed up to lend a hand. The two uh...gentlemen escorting me were not gentle at all. I could barely walk for the way they had my arms.

Long story, short: My Mother was called, I was fined by the Bahnhof, scheduled to appear in court for my actions, and released into my Mother's somewhat hostile custody.

I had no money for my fine, but my good friend Vanessa cashed in a savings bond and loaned me the money. Thanks again, Vanessa.

It wasn't long before I left Germany to stay with an Aunt and Uncle in Oklahoma because I was having too much trouble at home with my Mother. I can't imagine why...seeing how good I was, and all.

My departure came before my court date and I never looked back.
Let's just say I'm glad I was a minor! (But still...Don't get married in Germany 'cause I'm not coming if you do.)

5. My fifth, and most embarrassing, previously unknown bit of information....

In Junior High School I was madly, head-over-heals in love with Michael Jackson.

Stop laughing!

So there you have it. Five things you would have probably never guessed about me in a million, trillion years. If you are still courageous enough to admit to knowing, or being related to, me...please comment and include five things I'd never guess about you. Since you now know me so well I'd like to get better acquainted with you too. Come on! It'll be fun.

Until then,
Tonya