Good Press

[Guest guest]

After the last few weeks with all the angst about people putting abusive

things on the radio and web, I have a little bit of light.

Last week was our community event, New Almaden Day, something that has

its roots back in the late 1800's when we were a thriving mining

community. One feature is the " Jump In " parade which starts at the

community clubhouse and goes around the circle on the two streets that

comprise our village, one on each side of the creek. You either start

with the parade or simply Jump In when it passes.

Jan had a four mile hike in the morning and was still changing when the

parade started, so she jumped in and was invited to sit on the hood of a

golf cart that was in the parade. After the parade we have a community

event with lunch, t-shirts, raffles, and games for the kids. Jan worked

on the games for the kids handing out a goldfish to each child who won a

prize. This year she was the assistant always having a plastic bag full

of water and ready for the goldfish.

Well today I picked up our free local weekly. This is the same one

which had the really nice article on Jan about her Leukemia Society Hike

for Discovery. Jan's picture showed up twice, once in the parade and

once at the fishpond. Both times her name was mentioned, but nothing

about down syndrome. See:

http://www.almadentimes.com/

Her earlier article which we really liked is:

http://www.almadentimes.com/apr1306.htm

This is the kind of press we need. Jeanne likes writing about

people and she has done well for Jan. Her article in April connected

the people in the community with the young lady who they see walking the

loop or in the park on a longer hike. She is accepted here, even though

she's relatively new.

Rick ... dad to Jan .. now 3 years post leukemia and bone marrow

transplant and on no meds whatsoever