Working at the paper means I have an all access pass to print a picture of you for the whole world (o.k. Atascosa County) to see.
My oldest has a birthday next week and informed me repeatedly that he does not want to see his face in print again. Alright, I get it.
See, I learned my lesson years back...I hadn't been here too long, when someone (who shall remain nameless-it doesn't help that I truly have no clue how to spell his name correctly) had a birthday. And I had access to a great photo.
Let's just say he twern't thrilled. The photo didn't even show his face, and I didn't put his name on the ad. It was just a great picture of him diving into a lake. All it said was "Happy Birthday Rocketman"...Because he looked like a rocket.
To protect Rocketman's identity he is being portrayed by the late Andy Gibb.
He saw no humor, I actually think he saw red. The ad should have said "Happy Birthday Angryman".
But lesson learned.
Other than for my children or my husband I never put any ads in (before, but especially after that incident) that I don't have permission to put in.
I have been here almost 8 years now and I am often told by friends and acquaintances when having a conversation, "Don't put this in the paper" or "You're not going to put this in the paper are you?"
So, I just want to assure y'all, I will not put in who got a new job, I will not put in who got divorced, I will not put who was rumored to have done something tacky, mean or wrong. I just won't. We don't put in gossip. We do try to put in facts concerning Atascosa County and a bit of what life is like in South Texas.
I love seeing local kids smiling faces when they are photographed and placed in the paper for a winning achievement. It's those things that make a small town newspaper a precious gem.
The Pleasanton Express is a great place to work and I promise not to put in all your dark secrets in print...Now, the same can't be said for facebook....or my blog;)
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