Myra Perea This is Me

 Web References

1. 1. News Page

   test2.novatoadvance.com/archiv - [Cached]

   Published on: 2/18/2004   Last Visited: 9/4/2004

   'Spouses for life' • City hall building plan halted • Car wash vacuums keys from grandma's hands • New program aims to save lives in Novato • Many lawyers vie for two judgeships • Our Town: Myra Perea
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   Our Town: Myra Perea Crossing Guard
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   Myra Perea and Samantha, her Boston terrier.
   
   Every week day, as a crossing guard, Myra Perea and her Boston terrier, Samantha, watch out for the students at Pleasant Valley Elementary School in Novato. Over the years, the two have become local celebrities at the school. Students will cross the street to greet the two, and parents exchange news with Perea daily. After working at the San Francisco Delta Dental Insurance for 19 years, Perea could not imagine a job inside an office building and retired. Her second husband, who she married in 1984, was a janitor at Pleasant Valley at the time. He turned Perea on to the crossing guard position, which turned out to be ideal. "The kids are so cute," Perea said. "I've watched them from kindergarten to third grade." Perea enjoys the responsibility of protecting the children from traffic.
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   Most of the time Samantha socializes with the children while Perea sees to the logistics. "If I don't take her, the kids get really upset," she said. Last year, Samantha lost her eye sight and was in the hospital. During her dog's absence, Perea was swamped with "get-well" cards from students. When she is not working, Perea enjoys the outdoors, a passion she picked up from her adopted father. "He was still exercising an hour a day at 102," she said. "He taught me not to be a couch potato." During the last five years of her father's life, he lived with Perea and her husband in Novato. To keep active, her father would do laps around the kitchen on his walker. He died in 1994 at the age of 102. Perea, who has lived in Novato since 1978, learned her life story from her adopted father when she was older. Born to a 19 year old, her grandparents sent her mother from their home in Coffeeville, Kan., to her great-uncle's house in Cambria Pines, Calif., near Hearst Castle. Perea's great-uncle adopted her before she was born. She grew up believing her biological mother was her cousin. "I consider my adoptive parents my real parents," she said. From an early age, Perea formed a special connection with her adopted father. "I always wanted to do everything to please my dad," she said. When she talks about her father, her voice is coated with pride. After her father's death, Perea sought out her two brothers. "I knew they existed, but I didn't want to hurt the feelings of the father who raised me," she said. However, her biological father had not told the brothers about her. In 2000, she met them for the first time. Since then, the siblings have developed a bond. With her brothers living in Missouri and Virginia and the loss of her father, Perea has found a surrogate family in the Pleasant Valley parents and students. "I feel right at home here," she said.

2. 2. News Page

   www.novatoadvance.com/archives - [Cached]

   Published on: 2/25/2004   Last Visited: 8/25/2004

   Myra Perea, the crossing guard at Pleasant Valley Elementary School, has noticed both adults and teenagers speeding. Protecting students from careless drivers is not always pleasant for Perea. She has had drivers yell at her, and speed through the crosswalk while she is in it. "They're in a hurry, because they're late to work, and get angry when I put my sign up," Perea said.