I’ve spent lots of time under the roof of this newspaper. My aunt Mary Gallegos has worked here since I was a toddler. My father has done work here and there over the year for the Express.

I can remember when my Tia Mary would babysit me and I would come with her to work. Back then the computers were not as involved and we had to cut pictures and graphics out, wax the back (acts like re-positional glue) and create ads like that. I used to read cutlines and see that kids’ names, who were in my class,  were spelled wrong and correct them. I would help identify kids in pictures and file for my tia. I may even still have the clipping of some of the ads I helped put together then.

After I spent a Tuesday (dun dun dun deadline day) at the paper when I was small (well when I was 11 years old, not much taller than I was then), I wrote a letter to thank everyone for having me. Little did I know that the letter was published in a later edition. Remembering this I did a little digging and found that letter published in the August 18, 1993 issue. You can see it at the right. I have retyped it here (with all major errors lol) so that it can be read easier. August 18, 1993 edition of the Pleasanton Express

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I deticate this to Mary Gallegos my aunt.

On June 29, 1993 my Aunt Mary took me to the newspaper.

When I got ther. I was treated like a news paper worker. She introduced me to every one. There was Gloria, David, Daniel, BJ, Hopey, Pearl, Leon, Monica, Sue, Twister, Chrisy, Maggie, and Janie.

I edited some pages and some corrections name of kids I know. I got to help with advertisments.

Then at about six thirty we ate Bar-Bie-Q from McBee’s. After that we went back to work.

In a few hours it was time to go home. I had a great time. To top it all off David was nice to give me $10 for working.

But, the best thing is I think I found out what I’m going to do when I grow up.

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I loved reading this. It cracked me up.


Now, I’ve always enjoyed writing and the biz of newspapers, magazines, etc. and as a senior in high school I interned here. Helping mainly with typing copy and making a few simple ads (on the computer this time which was MUCH easier). I could identify many of the sports photos being that I attended school here my whole life. Filing invoices was my least favorite task, but I was happy to be there anyway. In an industry where knowledge is indeed power.

So 19 years after that letter was written, here I am blogging weekly for the Pleasanton Express, designing ads, keeping up withe the web and while my appearance has surely changed not much else has. My Tia Mary, Sue, Hopie, Leon and even Maggie are still here. I still love the industry. I still love creating something that thousands (with the Internet millions) read, see and enjoy.