May 19, 2005

First Lady Maria Shriver visits San Jose with tips for graduating teens

By Jeanne Carbone Lewis
Staff Writer

One of the stops on a whirlwind trip to the Bay Area by California First Lady Maria Shriver was a visit to Barnes and Noble on Stevens Creek Boulevard Monday afternoon to sign copies of her book “And One More Thing Before You Go.”

Looking trim and healthy in a black suit with a head full of curls, Maria Shriver took time with each person, young and old, chit chatting about the book and their lives.

Looking trim and healthy in a black suit with a head full of curls, California’s first lady took time with each person, mostly women, chit chatting about the book and their lives. Special attention was given to the children. Shriver is the mother of four children and has written books for children dealing with disabilities, children dealing with death and children dealing with a grandparent’s Alzheimer’s disease.

Shriver’s fifth book is for girls graduating from high school and entering into the next stage of life. Expanded from a speech given at a young friend’s commencement, the 62-page hardback lists 10 rules to make the transition easier. From “fear can be your best teacher” to “be willing to let go of your plan and learn from your mistakes,” the chapters transcend age groups. The book is listed as No. 4 on Publishers Weekly bestseller list. Shriver dedicates the book to her mother, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, calling her “my greatest champion.”

Many of the women were buying the book for daughters, nieces and young friends.

“My niece is going off to college,” said a woman clutching two books. “But I’m getting two of them. One for her and one me.”

“I’m buying it for my step-daughter,” said Lynn Walsh. “I’m a fan of the first lady. She’s as beautiful inside as she is outside. This will really mean something to my daughter. She likes her, too.”

Some were first-timers at a book-signing event and one even arrived to help out a neighbor.

“I’m here for my neighbor,” said one woman close to the front of the line. “She was here at 8 a.m. and had to leave so I’m filling in for her.”

Shriver toured Overfelt High School and gave a speech before the noon book signing. But her day was really just beginning.

“After we leave here we’ll be going to the Veterans Hospital in Palo Alto,” said Terri Carbaugh, Shriver’s press secretary. “She’ll be visiting the ICU and brain trauma unit. It is a priority with her to visit military families and help them when the spouses come home and may have more challenging situations than they ever imagined.”

After the book signing was over and the crowd dissipated, Shriver left with her staff, heading up the peninsula to the VA hospital. The evening ended with Shriver being presented an award from the Starry Night Foundation at the Fairmont Hotel. Just one day in the life of a very busy first lady.