The governor regularly received gifts that were shared in the office but most of the time they were food items or promotional items. But this one was different. Governor Deukmejian had been gifted a frog to jump in Calaveras County's famed Frog Jumping Jubilee. He offered the opportunity to his staff, and I 'jumped' at the chance.

The 62-year-old contest, which was inspired by Mark Twain's short story “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County," gives each contestant and their frog one chance to leap the furthest. I watched as others before me placed their frogs on the stage and then pounded the floor to startle their frogs to jump. Mine did, but it was nowhere near a championship distance. Still it was fun to participate in the iconic event.