Mom is famous too!

Now that China is over, I'm not sure who's reading this still, but maybe the family blog will continue and be updated from time to time. We're really glad that everyone has embraced it - ain't technology grand?

The other day I was googling Special Olympics on the OC Register site, to see if they had any coverage, and look what I happened upon! An interview with my mom!

Horticulturist with heart

Ann Thiel of Laguna Niguel has a real knack for plants and has what many would call a true "green thumb." She's an active mother and a volunteer. Here's a closer look.
Q: What brought you to California?
A. My husband, Jeff, is in the medical device business and after several stops across the country; his job brought us to California.
Q: How long have you lived in Laguna Niguel?
A: We have lived in Laguna Niguel for almost 11 years. I was amazed that many of my former 'house' plants grew outside here.
Q: How did you become a member of the Mission San Juan Capistrano's Gardening Angeles?
A: I called the mission after reading an ad to be a part of a new volunteer gardening group in the Thursday paper soon after we moved here.
Q: What interested you?
A: I had volunteered at public gardens in Massachusetts and New Jersey and I had really enjoyed it. I was in on the 'ground floor' of the Mission Gardening Angels. We are a working group of two dozen led by Jan Sorensen, our president.
Q: What are some of the things the club does?
A: We take care of the roses and flower beds at the mission deadheading, mulching, and I guess you could say fine tuning, working with the maintenance crew.
Q: What about on an educational level?
A: We maintain a vegetable garden and we have tried to showcase California natives and plants of interest for the docent tours, especially for all of the fourth graders that visit each year studying California history.
Q: What main events or activities do they do?
A: The Gardening Angels are a big part of the Mission's Flower, Art and Garden Festival each June and the monies it raises helps us buy new plants for the mission and sponsor school groups.
Q: How often do you meet?
A: We work in the mission gardens every Wednesday morning from 9 a.m. to noon.
Q: How can others get involved?
A: Stop at the entrance and ask for Jan or Ann and don't forget your clippers. Most of us go across the street for lunch after working so we have a fun group including the men Angels we fondly call the Mangles.
Q: Why volunteer?
A: If that wasn't enough, volunteering at the mission brings you in contact with visitors from all over the world. The mission Web site is www.missionsjc.com for more information.

Debbie L. Sklar is a Laguna Niguel resident, writer and editor. Her columns appear Fridays in the San Clemente Sun Post and on Thursdays in the Laguna Niguel News and the Aliso Viejo News. Please send story ideas to Debbiesklar@cox.net.

Ann Thiel
Born: Wisconsin
Education: A bachelor's degree in horticulture
Family: Two daughters, Meg, 26, and Sara, 24. Both girls graduated from Dana Hills and Meg from UCLA and the University of Toronto. Meg is married and works at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. Sara was selected as part of Team USA for Special Olympics and is a track athlete going to the Special Olympics World Games in Shanghai, China.

I've since informed mom not to speak to the press about me.

Pier del Sol

Today Sara and Ann attended the a SoCal Special Olympics fund raiser. In the picture to the left there are 3 of the 4 ( on the right) are athletes that participated in Shanghai. The two guys on the left are part of the law enforcement torch run that went to several cities in China the week before the games opened carrying the torch. The one in white is Sig, a cop from Temecula that was Eric's (the one in blue that is also Special Olympic athlete) partner during their time in China. The law enforcement group was staying at our hotel and seemed to be having a great time.

I didn't go to the event as I had to stay home and help the Packers win. Therefore I did not get to participate in the following picture. Yes, it's the Beaver. Sara is at the table with the other athletes signing her autograph.

Since Sara has been home she slept 17 hours the first night, likely would have been longer had we not gotten her up. Followed by 13 hours last night, and we had to get her up again so she could go to the fund raiser.

Blast in China

I had a blast in Shaghai China the last two week with all of my new friends. We got to go to to host town events for the few days we didn't have competions. We ran on the track that was close to our hotel when we couldn't run on the track. Michelle got to braid all of the girls hair before we ran. I got to meet a China family during host town and we got to go to the Sunshine school too. We got to go Shopping during host town too. That is all about my trip It was so much fun Thank you for Reading the blog while I was in China.

Back in the OC

We made it home at 7:00pm tonight. Ann and Sara are busy sorting laundry and figuring out what Sara lost or found on the trip. When we arrived there was a vase of flowers for Sara from Aunt Bee with a nice card.

Petunia has been willing to be held and petted. Rocky on the other hand just meows and runs from everyone. We decided to give him the big ignore until he needs Sara more than she needs him.

We have a Special Olympics softball tournament tomorrow, which for the second year in a row may get rained out. Rained here about 4 times in the past year and it could rain out the same event two years in a row.

On Sunday Sara is attending a SoCal Special Olympics fund raiser at the Santa Monica pier. There she will get to show off her medals and tell about the trip.

Sara said she read the blog while at Meg's today. She was too tired to post, I will work on her doing it over the weekend.

I am out.

Everyone's Home!

Beating dad to the punch, I am proud to announce that all of the Thiels have returned to California. Sara got home early this morning. I tried to pick her up at 9 but was informed that her suitcase hadn't arrived and she couldn't be released, so she hung out at the Hilton with her buddies until 11, when Tim picked her up. She took a shower and a nap and hung out with the cats. Lulu sprawled all over her luggage.

The flight of mom and dad's long journey was early, which was great, except that Sara and I were in traffic on the way over! We managed to meet them in time to get their ride home. I dumped Sara off at the curb (I slowed down so she could roll out...) Actually, I did pull up and stop next to mom and dad, but those LAX traffic cops - I had a guy over and eyeing my car within two minutes. Thanks guys, bye!

Called later and they are at the house, being attacked by their cats. Thanks to everyone for your support in the past few months. Hopefully Sara will get some sleep and blog tomorrow. Sunday she begins to make her press appearances. No ticker tape parade though.

On our way home

Ann and I are in Hong Kong awaiting our flight back to North America. Due to using free tickets this is going to take awhile as we go to Vancouver first, then on to LA.

This morning we were at the Shanghai airport. The two gates next to ours were being used for Team USA so we got to see Sara again. Even after a short night the kids were wired, glad I am not on that aircraft on the way home. I suspect with only a 13 hour flight and their last bite of time together they won't sleep.

As we suspected Sara was unwilling to trade her Team USA jacket. Many of her team mates did and had jackets from Korea, Japan and Israel and I am sure many more.

Now that I am out of China I can again read the blog. I have read the comments and thank everyone for being there for Sara.

The other good news is near as I can tell none of our group came down with the malady that befell Grandpa Charlie's shipmates in 1947. It must run in the family as I think that Ann spent most on my money on trinkets.

Closing Games

Tonight Ann and I went to closing games. Getting on the bus at 4:20pm for a 8:00pm start seemed a little early. As we waited for the program to start the athletes wandered in. I was able to get Sara's attention and wave to her. During the ceremony there is a mass trading of jackets, pins and whatever else an athlete may have brought to the closing. I saw a number of non USA athletes wearing USA rain jackets. Not sure what, if anything Sara was willing to trade. Ann and Sara worked hard to trade pins, we'll see what they have when we get home.

As expected Shanghai did a great job of putting on the 2007 World Special Olympics Summer Games. The closing ceremony was a perfect conclusion to the games.

It has been a great two weeks for Ann and I. We are sharing a bottle of champagne that Meg and Tim gave us before they left, thank you. This has been a great time for us watching Sara compete in this environment. We are truly honored that Sara was chosen and did such a magnificent job representing Team USA.

For those of you that have been reading the blog but have not attended a Special Olympics event, you don't know what you are missing. The competition, team work and true joy is something to behold. Take time out some weekend to see them play, it is something that will keep you going for a long while.

With any luck we will get the athlete to blog over the weekend.