Oceanside Heritage Day

On Saturday, I was invited by Eileen Turk, the director for the Friends of Oceanside Parks Organization to come take part in the first annual Oceanside Heritage Day which was basically set up to help raise money and awareness for Oceanside Parks and to bring people together once again. Eileen’s main goal is to help restore recreation to parks in Oceanside so that they will be just as well used as they once were. I thought this was such a good passion to have-because its true, parks are becoming more and more forgotten and becoming more and more run down and less used as families spend less time playing outside. So, when Eileen asked me to come and help support her at her event, I was thrilled. When I arrived, I introduced myself to several people and was even interviewed by the Oceanside TV station! I got to talk about why I was there: which was to sell raffle tickets, meet and greet, spread the word about the park, and just make people feel welcome. Eileen and all of her volunteers were so proud, thankful and excited to have me there. It made me feel so welcome! My mom and I went around and introduced ourselves to all of the people there-those running the car show, those playing in the band, the vendors, the dancers, and even the passersby. It was such a fun experience, and I will never forget how kind and friendly everyone was to me. I really will do everything to support and publicize the importance of Oceanside Parks ever since that event because I think that it is for a good cause, and it definitely is for the benefit of the community as a whole.

Arbor Hill Nursing Center Grand Opening

            Yesterday evening, my mother and I went to the Arbor Hill Nursing Center for the grand opening. The nursing center, located in La Mesa, was probably one of the most fancy and well designed centers I have ever seen. It seriously looked like a hotel, which each bathroom and room looking like a suite at the Hilton. One of the management staff gave my mom and I a tour of the facility, and took us through one of the rooms, their bathrooms, their rehab center, and the courtyard. There were at least 50-70 people there supporting the grand opening, and everyone had something positive to say about the facility and their staff and residents. Sherral, and a few other members from the East County Chamber of Commerce arrived and I was excited to see them because this was one of my last ribbon cuttings, and I want to see them as much as possible. I’ve developed such fabulous friendships and relationships with them over the past year, and I truly feel as though we are a family. Spending nearly 12 months with all of the chamber members and getting to go to all sorts of functions, from selling raffle tickets, to countless ribbon cuttings, to being on the radio, to supporting local retirement homes and raising money for the Salvation Army, the East County Chamber of Commerce has really been a blessing to my entire reign and they have played such a key role to why this has been the best year of my life. With amazing support, they have given me the chance to do so many amazing things, that otherwise I would have not been able to do and I will miss them all greatly when my reign ends. However, I know that the relationships I have built with them will surpass time, and I will be there in an instant if they ever need anything.

Miss Oceanside 2011 Pageant

            Last night was the Oceanside Pageant. For those of you who have been following my blog posts from Day 1, you might recall that the Miss Oceanside 2010 pageant was my very first event. I was there to see the crowning of Lauryn Moses and Demi Mundo, who over this past year, have both become two of my closest friends and pageant sisters. This year, I went to watch them both give up their titles and root for two of my own friends that were in the pageant this year-Vanessa Okafor and Elise Cruz.  Vanessa Okafor is a Miss Teen Vista princess and was actually borrowing one of my evening gowns-while Elise Cruz, for those of you who know, was giving up her title of being on the Miss Oceanside court. When I arrived at the pageant, I saw Rebekah Burger, my Miss Regional California Teen Achieve, and her mom.  Rebekah was looking beautiful, and I was excited to see her, and be able to experience a second pageant with her. During the pageant, Lauryn and Demi gave both of their farewell speeches and I found myself tearing up. Not only had both of them put a small thing about me in their speeches, I realized just how much little time would go by before I would be the one up there giving my farewell speech, trying not to cry as I talk about experiences in my past year or the friendships I’ve made. It was a very emotional moment, for all of the queens there. When it was finally time for the conclusion of the pageant, I clenched Rebekah’s hands and burst into screams and jumping up and down when I heard Vanessa Okafor’s name as the new Miss Oceanside 2011! And Elise Cruz was announced as third princess for Miss Oceanside. It was so exciting to me to see that both of the girls I was there rooting for, had been crowned royalty and now have a fabulous year waiting for them ahead. It was truly a moment that brought back so many memories, and reminded me that there will be many more to come.

American Red Cross Bloodmobile at Pine Park in Carlsbad

            On Sunday, my mother and I went to Pine Park at last minute to help run a blood drive check-in table. When we arrived we were surprised by how busy it was and also by what was going on in the park. There was apparently a small cookout and raffle prize going on in the park to raise money and support for a man from our local community who has been diagnosed with leukemia. People, obviously from his family, church, and friends, were all there helping raise money for him and even come over to the table that had been set up next to us that was helping people sign up to give bone marrow for him ( or anyone else). I have never had a separate organization come help us on the same day but it was really phenomenal watching so many sign up for one or even both of the different donor-ship opportunities. During the time I was there, I signed up probably 23 people to give blood and even there was about a 40 minute wait per person, they still diligently waited for their turn and their opportunity to help save a life. I was honored to help serve these people because they were so determined to do what they could to help make a difference. It also reminded me that I need to give blood again soon! Its been a few months, and I know that I need to go ahead and go back and give again-so I can be just as determined to help save a life. Because it’s not just enough to do it once-you have to do it again, so that you are consistently making a difference and it’s not just a one time thing.

The Linda Vista Multi-Cultural Fair and Parade

            Yesterday, on April 16^th, Rebekah Burger, Miss Regional California Teen Achieve and I went to the Linda Vista Multi Cultural Fair and Parade. It was a very warm sunny day and I was glad that I could celebrate my last parade (yes my last parade) in weather that wasn’t freezing or raining-in fact it was quite the opposite. When we arrived, I went up to the registration table and told the lady who we were and she checked us in and gave us our numbers. As Rebekah and I waited with my dad for Aunt Lotte, Robert and my mom to catch up with us (for we had taken two separate cars), I introduced myself to some of the other parade participants. This included the USD soccer team, Miss Vietnam and her 4 queens. I was excited to meet all of these people because not only were they so friendly but they wanted to take pictures just as bad as I did! When my mother finally arrived she quickly got out of the car, camera in hand, eager to take as many pictures as she could. Rebekah and I posed for several pictures with Miss Vietnam and her court, Buddha’s Light International Association, San Diego Submarine Veterans, the Panamanian Marching Band of California, and many others. We even took photos with people dressed inside those giant dragons you see at Chinese festivals. It was so memorable to both me and Rebekah ( seeing as this was her first parade), and I was happy to be able to teach her how to be in a parade so that when she carries on the title of “Teen Achieve” she will be poised and prepared. After the parade was over, my entire group went over to the fair were we were asked for pictures left and right by adorable children and their families. It was such a great ending to a fabulous year, to see the faces on little girls who saw “real-life Barbies” or “Oh my gosh mommy a real Cinderella!” and their entire face lit up when they got to take a picture with us, or get to wear our crowns. And that, in my opinion, was the entire point of being a queen. To bring joy to others, to serve the community and best of all-to inspire those around us, that they can do the same.