Today was the 60th Anniversary of the California Scholastic Press Association Workshop – a two-week journalism workshop held at California State Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo every Summer.
People were coming from all across the country to celebrate the event.
My Dad has run the workshop for the past 30 years and today was a big day for our family. My brother, sister and I owe a lot to the CSPA Workshop. After all, that’s where my parents met. Every member of our family had attended the workshop.
It was a big deal.
Rocky had thrown up all night long the day before and I was worried. He tried to carry on as if things were normal in the morning, but I could tell he was hurting. After a family discussion, we decided it would be best to take Rocky to the hospital.
The decision was made to take him to the hospital at almost the exact same time the 60th Anniversay of the CSPA Workshop.
Although Rocky was hurting, his pain didn’t seem terminal so my Father, sister and I made our way to the celebration. We met and talked with people who came from all across the United States to celebrate the Anniversary with us. But the whole time, our thoughts were with our brother.
The highlight of the presentation was when my father, along with other instructors and board members from the workshop received the highest honor the workshop bestows upon those who are associated with it. He had made the California Scholastic Press Association’s Hall of Fame. When his name was announced, I saw him getting off of his cell phone and he was emotional.
He graciously accepted the award and the festivities carried on. Minutes later, after the award ceremony had commenced. My father informed me about the content of his cell phone conversation.
Literally one minute before my Father had received one of the biggest awards of his life, he got another piece of news . . .
Rocky needed surgery . . . immediately.