This is the Beginning!?!

Hello, and I am glad that you decided to check this blog that I have just created. I am a native San Franciscan, that grew up in the 60's. Times were different, yet, some things do not change! I remember as I was growing up that the American Indian's had taken hold of the Island that we know as Alcatraz. I was also told to keep away from there because there was 'trouble' there. I really never gave it much thought to that, because I was a teenager, growing up with so many other things going on my mind.. that .... I do know that I recognize the island no matter what part of the Bay Area I happen to be in. It was like my 'landmark' so to speak, to let me know whether we were coming in or going out of the City.

Anyways, about two months ago, I started to work for the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy and my location is on Alcatraz Island. I am in the Retail department, and I work in one of the three book stores on the Island. I work in the Upper Book Store. I remember when the position was offered to me, I was not sure how I felt, but I knew that I was ecstatic that I was going to be working full time hours. But being the person that I am, I knew I was going to make it through.... the season! I was not going to let anything get in my way.

I thought... I am a Native of this City, and I should be very happy that I can work for a place that I thought would be way out of league, as far as the place of employment! Rather than letting myself scare me out of going to work on this island called Alcatraz, I thought of all the positive things... As, The Conservancy, and ...!!! This is a place where History took place..... Things that were happening in my backyard, so to speak!

On the first day, I was to meet my new boss, Chris, at Pier 33, and we had to get on the 8:45A boat! The employee boat! Good ole MUNI, was making my blood pressure rise, when 8:30... 8:35...8:40 and I was jumping off of the 'F' trolley car and running to get to the pier. Let alone the feeling of alonesness is so evident on the first day of the job... The whole boat was looking at me when I walked on! Oh my!

I made the trip over to the island, okay! I made it through the rocking boat, and well, the scenery took my mind off of that ok... I never realized what it took to actually 'run' an island! That would be on the operational part of it. Water has to be barged in... I mean I was in so much AWE that I was pretty much speechless!
I was like that pretty much the whole day.. seeing the rangers, other employees, meeting all these new faces! Was I going to remember all of their names??

In the interview, Chris did NOT tell me about the 4... yes, FOUR hills that I would have to climb to get to work! He thought that I should take the 'Audio Tour', so that I would be able to relate to the guests as they walk into the book store after they have done the tour. WOW!!! What a tour! Alot of information! I was in more AWE! My mind was going a hundred miles a minute.. maybe more! I had (and still do) so many questions, that I did not even know how to ASK the question! And then to know that I, pretty much had all the answers I want, if I just walk around the bookstore! =) I realized that day, just how much history was under my nose, and I did not even know it! I wanted to learn more... and more ....! How could I have been born and raised so close to the island and not know anything about it? Anyways, that was my first day of work, on the Island that we know as Alcatraz!

PEACE!