Thank you Mr. President

As my senior year ended it was time to look to my future in college. I had applied at several junior colleges, UCLA and San Jose State. My goal was a degree in Communications. My junior and senior year I had earned my 100 hours on the school radio station and done play by play for football. I found it fun and easy since talking come oh so easy for me. I got letters of acceptance from most of the schools I was interested in so I had a decision to make.

Earlier in May, I was selected to compete for the State Ambassador Program for California 4-H. If I was selected at the August competition to serve on the team I knew my next year would be very busy. I decided to stay close to home and go to Columbia. Many of my classmates were heading to Columbia so it made sense. Plus my family was here and my job was here and I wanted to be close to that for a while.

I had worked at Mountain Steamer Pizza since my freshman year and Jan Darone had become my second family. I loved working at the pizza house in Jamestown and worked there until long after high school. My fellow employees were friends that took care of each other, held each other accountable and protected each other. We had late night water fights using BUCKETS of water not squirt bottles, movie nights and long long talks.

Jan was mother hen to all of us and we could talk to her about anything. She also saw to it we all got our school work done, gave us time off for events and supported us in our decisions with encouragement. Too this day I know that I would not have been able to do all the school activities and 4H activities had it not been for Jan.

When August rolled around I was at UC Davis for the Ambassador competition. For the next 5 days there would essay competition, speaking competition and interviews. There were 10 judges from all over the state and the field of contestants was narrowed down to 20 of us from all over California. On the last day they would select 6 of us to be the new team to represent California for 1 year.

Sunday noon soon arrived and the announcement would soon be made. My county 4-H delegation was there as was my family and it was time to announce the team. I was floored when I was the first name called to the stage. My county went crazy and I was in a daze. How in the world?

Right away that afternoon we were put to work recording radio ads and writing speeches. The year of excitement had started. We were introduced to our advisers and told that during the next year we would travel as a team and individually to give speeches, recruit members and talk to donors. In March we would attend the National Conference in Washington D.C. and one of us would represent California in the National Ambassador competition.

I had so much fun! My team was made up of the greatest people. Margo, Stuart, Paul, Debi, and Sharon. We all had different strengths different talents and ideas. We came from all different corners of the state and we had a lot to learn about each other.

I served on the Governor's International Youth Year Committee, recorded a television show with Stuart for Ag USA and I was on the Voice of America, a radio show that would be broadcast behind the Iron Curtain. I was constantly on the go and I finally asked my scholarship sponsors if I could take a leave from College so I could have time to do it all and still work. I also took the leave because I hoped the little bit of rest I could get would help with my headaches.

It seemed the headaches were only getting worse. I noticed they really pounded after I would go running, play baseball or exercise. Occasionally I had dizzy spells but I just chalked it all up to needing rest and needing to eat better. Between work, 4-H and just trying to visit friends I was always on the go and I just felt that my issues were from being tired.

In March the big week in Washington DC had arrived and my California Team and Leaders had selected me to try out for the National Team. What an honor to represent that team of 6. They were a class act and I was so humbled that they had chosen me.

The week was a whirl wind. As a team we attended leadership sessions toured that nations capital, visited our elected officials and at night there were dances. When I was not with the team I was giving speeches, writing essay's and interviewing. Part way through the week I was asked by Dr. Donald Stormer from the USDA if I would be the Master of Ceremony for an event at the USDA. I immediately said yes and then he told me that I would be escorting the wife of Secretary of Agriculture John Block to the event. I was 19 years old and living an amazing dream.

At night when I would get back to my room my adult Adviser John Emo would be waiting up for me reading his book. John was an elder gentleman and I respected with all my energy and each night he waited up for me so we could review the day and he could offer encouragement. He would give me advice for the next day and he would always tell me what a great job I was doing.

That next morning when I woke up there was John sitting in that hard wooden chair reading that book. I asked if he had been up all night and he laughed and said no but the book he was reading was really good and he could just not put it down. In fact he said I have read it several times in my life. I of course had to know so I asked the title so that maybe some day I would look it up. You can find it anywhere" he said "its the Bible."

I told him that someday I would read it. He then told me something that still remains in my mind and my heart, " I am an older man, my days are numbered and this book has carried me through the most difficult times. I will pray for you today and for your headaches as I know they are hurting". Did I tell you he was a class act?

On the final day it was announced that I would be on the National Team. There had never really been a National Team so we really did not know what that meant. As I left the room the National Leader stopped me and said "We were impressed. You will be hearing from us soon so get some rest". I remember calling home and telling my family and that National Leader got on the phone and told my mom what a great job I had done. It was so cool.

The next day in California I was sound asleep when my Mom came into the room and told me I had a call from Washington DC. It was the National program and they were calling to tell me that in two days I would be returning to Washington , DC for an event at the White House. Cool I thought I get to go to the White House twice in one week. She then said "You will be being Honored by the President".

WHAT? I get one days rest and I go back to meet President Ronald Reagan? I could not imagine what that would be like or how I would ever get any rest. My head was pounding and I was exhausted. My mom told me that that afternoon we would all be going to town for lunch. I thought that was weird as we never really did that but family time would be great.

Around noon, just as we were leaving for town, the manager of the pizza parlour Robin Grimm and her husband Tim arrived and wanted me to go for a quick ride with them. I loved Robin as she was always supportive of me. In fact my first week at Mountain Steamer a few years earlier Robin realized I needed new clothes for school and she surprised me by giving me several outfits that she had bought with her own money.

Our drive ended up at the Mountain Steamer and there were all kinds of people there to celebrate being selected to the team and I got to announce I was leaving to meet the President the next day. The day ended and my travels were just beginning.

My flight back to DC was anything but uneventful. There were tornado warnings across the mid west and when we landed for my layover we flew between two major thunderstorms. I had never been in a tornado warning before and that was a new adventure. Talk about turbulence. The next day I was prepped along with Tatina Ott from Pennsylvania and we were off to the White House.

I had been to the White House before but this time it was different. I would be going into an area with the President and security was a bit different. My foil from my pack of gum and the metal on my name badge set off the alarm and instantly there were hands all over me. Then a guy in a dark suit said "he is with us" and I was let go. That was cool.

Then I met the President! He gave a speech talking about volunteering and what each of us in the group had done. They sure knew their information. Then the President turned to each of us for a meet and greet. That's when Sam Donaldson from ABC started yelling out question's and the Presidents advisers whisked him away. I heard Donaldson say "Thank you Mr. President" really sarcastic I mumbled "Thank you Mr. Donaldson."

Over the next year I would travel trough DC and back to the White House again and many great states in America for the USDA. I would salute as TAPS was played at Arlington for a newly killed hero and I would stand on the Memorial at  Pearl Harbor as a ship sailed past and all the sailors saluted those lost at sea. I can tell you that all politics aside I feel Ronald Reagan was a very nice man.

Soon it was time to return to normal life. From the first experience in Washington in 1985 until I returned to school in the fall of 1987 I lived a dream. I was an honorary fireman for Jamestown Fire, spoke at places I had never heard of before and stood on the mound at Candlestick Park. Through it all I silently suffered with headaches, dizzy spells and recently loss of sleep and uncontrolled shaking. I blamed it all on exhaustion and moved on.

The biggest lesson I learned through it all is that there was a book I really needed to read. A book that sounded like it held all the answers to life's great questions and would carry me as I made "My Journey".

It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

Mathew 4:4

Immediately after being selected to the team we had publicity pictures. I was floored the number of papers I received from across the state wit this photograph in it. 

Who plans a publicity shoot just 48 hours after two trips to Washington, DC in one week? You can tell by my eyes and crooked smile I was exhausted. During this whole shoot my head was pounding, it was like the headaches would never stop and for years they didn't.  It was a great adventure and something I will never forget.