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8A Daily News – Saturday, April 13, 2013 FEATURES Reader requests essay for teen drivers for the bus. I remember Dear Annie: My 17how I wheedled the car out year-old son has his beginof Mom. ''Special favor,'' ner's driver permit and I pleaded. ''All the kids thinks he knows it all. If I drive.'' When the 2:50 mention something he did p.m. bell rang, I threw my wrong behind the wheel, books in the locker ... free I'm being ''mean.'' I can't until tomorrow morning! I seem to get through to him ran to the parking lot, the dangers that can happen in a split second. Can you Annie's excited at the thought of driving a car and being my please run the essay own boss. ''Please, God, I'm Only It doesn't matter how the 17'' again? Maybe it will by Kathy Mitchell open his eyes. — Worried and Marcy Sugar accident happened. I was goofing off — going too Dad in Kentucky Dear Dad: At least once a year, fast, taking crazy chances. But I was we get a request to reprint this mov- enjoying my freedom and having ing essay for the new crop of fun. The last thing I remember was teenage drivers. We hope all parents passing an old lady who seemed to will place it where the kids will see be going awfully slow. I heard a it. (We also recommend, Dad, that crash and felt a terrific jolt. Glass you pepper your criticism with and steel flew everywhere. My praise for all the things your son whole body seemed to be turning does correctly. He'll be more likely inside out. I heard myself scream. Suddenly, I awakened. It was to listen to you.) "Dead at Seventeen'' by John very quiet. A police officer was standing over me. I saw a doctor. Berrio Agony claws my mind. I am a My body was mangled. I was satustatistic. When I first got here I felt rated with blood. Pieces of jagged very much alone. I was over- glass were sticking out all over. whelmed by grief, and I expected to Strange that I couldn't feel anyfind sympathy. I found no sympa- thing. Hey, don't pull that sheet thy. I saw only thousands of others over my head. I can't be dead. I'm whose bodies were as badly man- only 17. I've got a date tonight. I'm gled as mine. I was given a number supposed to have a wonderful life and placed in a category. The cate- ahead of me. I haven't lived yet. I gory was called ''Traffic Fatalities.'' can't be dead. Later I was placed in a drawer. The day I died was an ordinary school day. How I wish I had My folks came to identify me. Why taken the bus! But I was too cool did they have to see me like this? Mailbox Why did I have to look at Mom's eyes when she faced the most terrible ordeal of her life? Dad suddenly looked very old. He told the man in charge, ''Yes, he's our son.'' The funeral was weird. I saw all my relatives and friends walk toward the casket. They looked at me with the saddest eyes I've ever seen. Some of my buddies were crying. A few of the girls touched my hand and sobbed as they walked by. Please, somebody — wake me up! Get me out of here. I can't bear to see Mom and Dad in such pain. My grandparents are so weak from grief they can barely walk. My brother and sister are like zombies. They move like robots. In a daze. Everybody. No one can believe this. I can't believe it, either. Please, don't bury me! I'm not dead! I have a lot of living to do! I want to laugh and run again. I want to sing and dance. Please don't put me in the ground! I promise if you give me just one more chance, God, I'll be the most careful driver in the whole world. All I want is one more chance. Please, God, I'm only 17. Annie's Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please email your questions to anniesmailboxcomcast.net, or write to: Annie's Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254. Lassen Park schedules fire management event Lassen Volcanic National Park will conduct informal open house events in the two neighboring communities of Chester and Burney in April. These events will occur in Chester at the volunteer fire station, adjacent to the airport on April 16, 5-6:30 p.m. and in Burney at the volunteer fire department 5-6:30 p.m. April 17. Fire management and resource management personnel will be present to answer questions and provide information on such topics as tools of fire management, Wilderness management, park-specific fire programs and lessons learned from the 2012 Reading Fire. These events are free and open to the public. The Lassen Volcanic National Park staff would like to thank the local communities for their support and encourage all community members to join the park staff at their nearest open house location for these preseason events. For more information, please contact the park fire education specialist at (530) 595-6163 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Blue Ribbons for Child Abuse Prevention Month During the month of April, trees in Tehama County will be decorated with blue ribbons to raise awareness for Child Abuse Prevention. Counties throughout California are following the example set by Tehama, which was the first county in the state to use blue ribbon trees in the effort to bring atten- tion to the problem of child abuse. The message of the blue ribbon trees is at once simple and profound: every child deserves a safe, nurturing, and happy childhood. Pinwheels are the national symbol of child abuse prevention. A pinwheel garden will be planted in Corning on April 15th in front of the Transportation Center and in Red Bluff on April 29th at the Cone Kimball Plaza. For a small donation, a pinwheel can be tagged in honor of a specific child. Proceeds will go to a scholarship fund. Child abuse and neglect not only harm children directly, but they Just In Time For Warmer Weather! Tax Return Specials Don't let that return go to "waist" when it could get you in shape! 2 Months Tanning Only 50 $ *Limited to one per person* Must be 18 3 Ways to Save Hundreds on Memberships 4 months • 8 months or Annual Membership Specials call or go to tehamafamilyfitness.com for more info on membership pricing. Standard rate apply after promotion Tehama Family Fitness Center 2498 South Main St, Red Bluff • 528-8656 www.tehamafamilyfitness.com PARKINSON'S CONFERENCE 3.5 CE hours available • Innovative Exercises for Parkinson's • Nutrition for the Parkinson's Patient Tuesday, April 16, 2013 12:30-4:30 p.m. Enloe Conference Center 1528 Esplanade, Chico Register at: chicoparkinsons.evenbrite.com or call 800-995-0878 Innovative Exercises for Parkinson's Claire McLean, PT, DPT, NCS, University of Southern California Nutrition for the Parkinson's Patient Michelle Neyman Morris, PhD, RD, California State University, Chico Mountain Caregiver Resource Center of Passages (CE Provider PCE 1957, CEP13003) (530) 898-5925 ~ www.MountainCRC.org ~ mcrc@csuchico.edu also impact the community through the increased likelihood of long-term physical and mental health problems, alcohol and substance abuse, continued family violence and criminal behavior. The majority of child abuse cases stem from situations and conditions that are preventable in an engaged and supportive community. The blue ribbons and pinwheels remind us all that we have a responsibility to help keep our children safe. Anger can damage relationships, health tified in being DEAR DOCangry, there's a TOR K: My husreal chance that band and I both anger will cause have quick temyou to do somepers. Before we thing you regret know it, a simple and hurt someobservation turns one you love. into an argument. Taking a timeAny advice for Dr. K out tells your keeping our conby Anthony L. partner that you versations civil? DEAR READ- Komaroff, M.D. are interested in his or her point ER: Everyone gets angry from time to time, of view, and that you but anger comes more eas- value and respect them. ily to some people. Two And it also signals that married friends, call them they should consider Kevin and Jane, recently why you got angry, and recounted the following whether there was any basis for it that could exchange to me: As Kevin was finishing have been avoided. Think back to Kevin up a hectic day at work, Jane rang and asked him and Jane's exchange to pick up milk for the over the milk. Fortunatekids on the way home. ly, Jane stopped, looked "I'll do my best," he told and listened. She recogher. But the store was nized her own anger, but closed by the time Kevin also Kevin's effort. She got there and he arrived observed that he felt bad, home empty-handed. His and she quickly backed wife, who also had a hec- down from anger. An tic day at work, became incident that could have upset and responded, "But escalated into a fullyou said you would get blown argument ended it." "No, I said I'd try," instead with a peaceful said Kevin apologetically. family dinner. To learn many more The outcome of this exchange could have gone strategies for recognizbadly. You can imagine ing and controlling tempers rising and a anger, read "Outsmarting Anger" by Harvard vicious spat to follow. In fact, Jane replied, Medical School's Dr. Joe "We're both exhausted. Shrand, with Leigh M. The kids won't starve. Devine. (You can learn Let's have dinner." With more about this book at those few words she com- AskDoctorK.com.) Besides the damage municated to her husband that nothing mattered that anger can do to relamore than the harmony tionships, there's growing evidence that anger between them. Interactions like this is just plain bad for your happen every day. With health. You've probably each interaction comes heard about people who an opportunity to mini- get heart attacks from mize anger and create a having "Type A personpositive outcome. The alities" — from being key is to convey infor- hard-driving and perfecmation peacefully and tionistic. There's a measure of truth to that, but respectfully. Remember that how anger is even more of a we say something is as factor in bringing on a important as what we heart attack. say. If you speak with Dr. Komaroff is a anger or contempt, a physician and professor simple disagreement can Harvard Medical turn into a huge argu- at To send ment. Instead, try talking School. questions, go to calmly and respectfully. or Taking a "time-out" AskDoctorK.com, when things start to get write: Ask Doctor K, 10 heated is really impor- Shattuck St., Second tant. Even if you are jus- Floor, Boston, MA 02115. HELP WANTED AUTO ROUTE DRIVER WANTED Red Bluff Area Must be 21 or older & bondable. Call or apply in person Circulation Dept. Red Bluff Daily News (530) 527-2151 ext 128 DAILY NEWS RED BLUFF TEHAMA COUNTY TLC - Transitional Living Center of Tehama County is honored by the support and generosity of our community. The Vagina Monologues brought awareness to end violence against women and girls plus TLC. So Thank you to the V Day Tehama/ Shasta's cast, Saralysette Ballard, Amanda Davidson, Maureen Greer, Amy Knox, Liz Link, Natalie Peterson, Tina Robertson, Amy Schutter, Talia Shirer, Haley Summers, Rowan O'Connell-Barger plus Samantha Davidson. A special THANK YOU goes to: Abbey's Hair Works Bell Carter Corning Olive Oil Company Dutch Bros Girls, Inc Fountain of Health House of Brews Nail & Hair Design Plum Crazy Prime Cinemas Red Bluff Rio Skin Works Rolling Hills Casino Rowan O'Connell-Barger Sean Rix State Farm Shirley Davies State Theater Tammie Davidson Toucan Tans Vita Dermatology Wild Oak Women's Health Specialists Alsco California Kitchen & Co Duane Miller Civil Engineering Fashion Barn Gold Exchange Healing Center Lariat Bowl Palomino Room Price's Pharmacy Psycho Fitness MMA Risky Business Rose Crain Roy Hutchings Shear Harmony Spa downstairs Sugar Shack Toni Gaylord Vina Women's Ministry We Shoot Ya Wink Nossorc Nature Enrichment Center Thank you, Thank You, Thank YOU to ALL. For more information on TLC www.choices4changeinc.com, email choices4changeinc@gmail.com call 527-4975 or PO Box 9028, Red Bluff for V Day send an e-mail to VDayRedBluff@yahoo.com or call 690-5529 If you know a homeless woman who is ready for a change; call 527-4975 make an appt, tour our facility, fill out an application and get ready for life changes.