The Cupertino Courier
Letters & Opinions
New job equals big adventure for incoming editor
By Carol Bogart
First, let me say landing this job is a dream come true.
Mike, my son, and I moved to California from Ohio in 2003 just as he, now a sophomore at San Jose State, was starting his senior year in high school.
As a single parent and Mike's sole support, even though I loved my work and my co-workers at my first print position--lifestyle editor at a rural newspaper--with Mike's college in the offing, I needed to make more money.
Being so short on money was a fairly new phenomenon. Prior to Mike's arrival I'd been a TV news anchor in Denver, making a comfortable income. But my son has ADHD. When my parents died in '89 (mom) and '90 (dad)--leaving me a little financial cushion--I opted to be a stay-at-home mom for my then 4-year-old son.
As the inheritance ran out and Mike began to grow up, I started reinventing myself as a print journalist a few months before my 50th birthday.
That first job included writing a column. I don't suppose you'll be surprised to learn I often wrote about my son and our assorted adventures on our farm.
Five years later, as we were preparing for our move, many of the wonderful people I'd come to know through that column called, emailed or dropped by to wish both of us well, with the admonishment, "May the earth stay still."
Traveling with our cat and dog, our loose plan was: drive until we got hungry or it got dark, look for a pet-friendly motel (or one that wouldn't notice when we snuck Dodger in the back door), then hit the road again after a decent breakfast.
We crossed seven (eight?) states in about four days.
I was determined that Mike would start his senior year on the same day as the other seniors so as to reduce the "new kid" stigma.
Kind people at Castro Valley High School bent over backward to make Mike feel welcome--even wrangling a spot for him on the football team, despite his having missed preseason practices. The principal, who told me her nephew also struggles with attention deficit disorder, helped Mike adapt to his new school, and encouraged his teachers to adapt to Mike's ADHD.
So, for the past three years I've been learning how to be an editor, after so many years as an investigative reporter/columnist. I'd picked the initial job in Hayward over other offers largely because of its proximity to San Jose. Mike's cousins and their families live here, and I thought it would be nice for him to have close-by family. Losing my mom and dad had meant a big void for both of us.
The next position, at a weekly, brought new skills and an appreciation for the strong community role these niche publications play. This is your paper, your place to be heard, the mirror we hope reflects all that matters most to you.
How well we do depends, of course, on you. If you have a concern, please tell us. If something touches your heart, we want to know. If you think someone is an inspiration and deserves recognition, drop me email.
This is a dream job for me for several reasons. Through my role as editor, this column and the dialogue I look forward to sharing with you, I'll once again be able to connect with my community in an especially meaningful way.
Just before starting this job on April 10, I moved to San Jose April 9 (after accepting the position April 5). This rush-rush experience was one fraught with multiple near-disasters, each of which may result in columns I hope will make you laugh. I'm not dead, so I must be stronger.
The new apartment I share with the now-seasoned travelers Dodger and Pumpkin (cat) is in the heart of downtown San Jose.
Mike's fraternity house is just around the corner.
Carol Bogart is the new editor of the Cupertino Courier. Contact her at cbogart@community-newspapers.com or call 408.200.1055.
