Susan Napier-Jones:  

"Quick" update on the last 35 years. Worked and put myself through college. Graduated Chabot with AA in Recreation Therapy in '80 and after a little break to just work, got BS in Recreation Admin. with Therapeutic emphasis at Cal State Fresno in '88. LOTS of different and varied jobs over the years including working in and for Yosemite Park & Curry Co. and a summer in Disneyland. Places I've lived in CA: Downtown Hayward (ahh, Grace St.), Yosemite, Fresno, Fremont, Anaheim, Mt. View, San Jose, and now Hollister. Also lived for very short time in Kent, Wa. long ago. In addition to almost drowning during swimming at Mt. Eden pool, I also had close brush with death from undiagnosed appendicitis in '77. Other major surgery in '01 took away my last hope of being a mom someday. I have had two broken bones: my nose and my foot (not quite head-to-toe). Overall, I've been blessed with good health and great life opportunities. ***I must interject a PS here. I completely left out my cat. I've had several over the years but this one, known by his friends as "A.J.", has been part of this family for 12 years. He's a cuddler and has gotten me through some tough times. **** Okay, back to my story... After a painful break-up in late 70's, I sowed some wild oats for awhile and explored a whole new side of me (while still working and going to school). To coin a Rick James song, you might say I found I was "a very freaky girl... that kind you CAN take home to mother" I was in a long running relationship off and mostly on for over 12 years but did not marry until later. I met my husband (Don) in '93 at a dance for adults with developmental disabilities while we were both working for different cities (his major=Adaptive P.E.) Life was real, fun, interesting (and still a little freaky) with my long-(dark)haired, much younger, energetic, and hard-working boyfriend. He understood my field of choice and my passion about the work I was doing. He was doing similar work, after all. --Some of you met him in '94 at the 20 year reunion.-- We were married in '95. We moved to Hollister in '96 and two moves later ('99), ended up in the 3-bedroom house we "own" now. In addition to our full-time jobs, we began recreation programs for folks w/disabilities in Hollister a year after being in town here. We continue to run a (power) wheelchair soccer team known as the Hollister Free Wheelers. Our players have had the chance to travel as far as Indiana and Georgia and have met people from around the world through this sport. Five of first 7 years, we brought home National Championship trophies for Division I, II, or both. The last couple years have been less spectacular since we've been in a re-building stage due to many changes in our roster. We have also had 6 of our players letter in sports from the high school even though we offer this privately. Because they are in power wheelchairs, there are no sports options like this at the school but those in charge recognized years ago how much time and dedication playing at this level takes and decided to award these jackets to recognize this. We also have our own non-profit organization as of '97 to enable tax deductible fundraising. My husband is the coach of the team and I am the team manager. We do it all. We had the chance to be in on the ground floor of an international community of people who came together to coordinate a set of rules for power soccer. This was the first step toward conducting true international events such as world cup tourneys and submission to Para-Olympics (very different than and not to be confused with Special Olympics). Side note: First World Cup was held in Japan in '07 and the US team, with two of our players, won the tournament! For the meetings to develop the rules, we had the chance to travel in '05 to France just outside Paris, with a side trip to Amsterdam, and later that same year to Portugal about 1 1/2 hrs from Lisbon. I LOVE to travel. We have taken lots of fun trips, several based around lacrosse events (one of Don's passions). These included one for two weeks (long ago)driving/flying/driving with ultimate goal of tournament in Maryland and visits with many family and friends all along the way. My passion for Disneyland is as strong as ever. I have visited 3 of the parks (Anaheim, Orlando, Fl, and Paris, France). I even got to walk in a guest-focused parade with my sister on one trip to the Anaheim park! Don and I collect magnets from all places we travel to. Our most recent trip was to Reno/Tahoe to watch the fireworks and smell the fresh air. It was 80+ degrees on the way up so we dropped the top of our dark blue, convertible Sebring and did our best to look like a commercial for how to be a Californian all the way there. Way Fun!! We don't travel as much as we'd like due to lots of work for us both. Don works out of San Jose for rehab company selling custome wheelchairs and other medical equipement. He travels as far north as SF and south as far as Salinas. I have two jobs 1) Full-time office manager and teacher's aide at small rural elementary school in Hollister hills and Part-time as respite provider giving caretakers of kids with disabilities a break. One of my respite families has recently put all the rest of my life in perspective. They have twin girls with Down's Syndrome. I've been wit...Expand for more