Steamboat Pilot & Today

Janna Marxuach

Age: 43

Occupation: Fundraising and Media Chair for the Yampa Valley Autism Program

Place of birth: Omaha, Nebraska.

Q. When did you move to Routt County and what brought you here?

A. 1992, a compromise on where to live in the mountains.

Q. What's the biggest risk you¹ve taken recently?

A. Oh, daily I am faced with risks. That is part of life.

Q. Describe your morning routine.

A. Get up and get ready for the day before I have to get my son up, prepare his breakfast and lunch then take him to school. This is usually enough chaos.

Q. Has a book ever changed your life? What was it and why?

A. Many, but the book "A Different Kind of Boy" by Daniel Mont helped me understand that others knew what it was like to raise a special child.

Q. What's the best piece of advice you¹ve ever been given?

A. Work hard and make sure you can take care of yourself. My mother who was widowed with three babies taught me this.

Q. What three things would you want people to know about you?

A. I have a wonderful son, I am passionate about education for all children, and I know I'll make mistakes, but I'll keep trying.

Q. What did you want to be when you grew up?

A. A forest ranger.

Q. If you could invite any four people to dinner, who would they be and what would you talk about?

A. My dad (who died when I was 3), Vincent Van Gogh, Shakespeare and Leonardo da Vinci. I would lead the conversation to life, passion, art and love, then sit back and listen.

Q. Do you collect anything?

A. Ethnic dolls.

Q. In the Meatloaf song, "I'll do anything for love, but I won't do that," what is that?

A. I would never put my son second. He will always be first in my life.

Q. What was your first job?

A. Besides babysitting, scooping ice cream.

Q. Who is your favorite superhero? Why?

A. Don't like superheroes.

Q. Do you have a tattoo? If so, what of and why did you chose it?

A. Yes, a treefrog, on my shoulder. Just love frogs.

Q. Do you have any phobias?

A. No.

Q. If you could go back in time, to what event or time period would you go?

A. 1967, before my father died, so I could know him better.

Q. What is your favorite thing to do in Routt County?

A. Live.