100 and Counting

By my calculation, this is the 100^th article that I have written for CV Weekly, a milestone I never imagined when I began my professional career. 

Back in the day, I had set my sights on being an animal researcher, a Jane Goodall-type out in the field, and put myself through college by working different jobs “pushing paper,” as they used to say. Over time, I realized that a climate-controlled office was far more attractive than being outdoors in the heat, wind and cold even if I was observing interesting animals. So I shifted gears and started working indoors at the LA Zoo in the Education division and still got to be part of something greater than myself by contributing to the zoo visitor experience. I never looked back.

Since then, I have been provided with many career opportunities and gained many skills.  Turns out, one of them is writing. As part of my various jobs and volunteer positions, I had written newsletters, handbooks, marketing pieces and have even written technical documents for the no710.com website while fighting against the 710 Freeway tunnel. All of my administrative work and scientific research prepared me to write these fact-based materials.  

Writing for pleasure was never on my radar until one day in 2007 when it just came to me that I should write a book! Yep, it just popped into my head one day out of the blue. The book remains unfinished but what that moment did was wake me up to the realization that I am a storyteller. Writing initially gave me an outlet to pass down my stories and my knowledge, if only for my family to read. What it developed into was so much more.

In May 2018, I was approached by Sharon Weisman, a fellow community advocate, who had been writing articles in the CV Weekly giving reports from the Crescenta Valley Community Association (CVCA).  She said she wanted to retire from writing and asked if I would be interested in taking her place. Sharon was one of four volunteer writers who shared a column once a month and reported on state and local issues. Her articles were about land use and other topics that affected the quality of life in the Crescenta Valley. I must say, I was excited about the prospect of becoming a voice for the community I love but also concerned that I wouldn’t have enough to write about each month.

Editor Robin Goldsworthy must have been dubious when I proposed a wide variety of seemingly unrelated topics that first year but she took a chance on me, and I am so glad she did. In addition to what the CVCA was talking about, I wrote about volunteerism (“How Full is Your Cup” https://www.crescentavalleyweekly.com/viewpoints/09/06/2018/update-neighborhood-susan-bolan/), becoming a mom (“Parenting By the Seat of Your Pants” https://www.crescentavalleyweekly.com/viewpoints/05/02/2019/news-valley-susan-bolan-2/), the importance of zoos (“Why Do We have Zoos?” https://www.crescentavalleyweekly.com/viewpoints/02/07/2019/views-valley-susan-bolan-4/), interacting with unhappy people (“Killing It with Kindness” https://www.crescentavalleyweekly.com/viewpoints/06/06/2019/views-valley-susan-bolan-6/) and dealing with a chronic disease (“My Endo Story” https://www.crescentavalleyweekly.com/viewpoints/01/03/2019/views-valley-susan-bolan-3/.)

I wrote regularly on local issues like the Verdugo Hills Golf Course housing project (“VHGC Update” https://www.crescentavalleyweekly.com/viewpoints/03/07/2019/news-valley-susan-bolan/) and I also went on to write about growing up in Sunland (“The Benefit of Grass” https://www.crescentavalleyweekly.com/viewpoints/09/05/2019/views-valley-susan-bolan-8/), (“It’s a Small World After All” https://www.crescentavalleyweekly.com/viewpoints/04/01/2021/views-from-the-valley-3/), several of my relatives (“Gifts from my Ancestors” https://www.crescentavalleyweekly.com/viewpoints/06/03/2021/views-from-the-valley-4/), (“Connection to Rockhaven” https://www.crescentavalleyweekly.com/viewpoints/11/03/2022/views-from-the-valley-20/), spooky encounters (“Nancy the Doppelganger, Javier the Angel” https://www.crescentavalleyweekly.com/viewpoints/06/01/2023/views-from-the-valley-26/), (“Déjà vu All Over Again” https://www.crescentavalleyweekly.com/viewpoints/10/03/2024/views-from-the-valley-40/), the loss of a son (“A is for Addiction, D is for Drugs” https://www.crescentavalleyweekly.com/viewpoints/02/07/2020/news-valley-susan-bolan-5/) and the aftermath of the pandemic (“We Need a Little Christmas Right This Very Minute” https://www.crescentavalleyweekly.com/viewpoints/12/02/2021/views-of-the-valley-2/.)  

I always believed that the stories I told were more than just my random thoughts and feelings and that they could be helpful, maybe even inspiring, to someone out there. Robin has indulged my unique topics and never suggested that perhaps they were far too personal for a small town newspaper. I truly appreciate her and those who supported me along the way.

I invite you to check out my past articles by going to cvweekly.com and search Susan Bolan.  You will find everything archived there.  

Thanks for being part of my journey. Happy reading!

Susan Bolan
susanbolan710@gmail.com