Dear Ones: [This letter was written but never mailed.]
As I reflect on 2006, it is with both great joy and great sorrow. And I feel compelled to begin with the sad news that my mother, Mamie Pogue, passed away in September. She was 83, and her mental and physical health had been steadily declining. We have been preparing for this eventuality for years, losing her by inches. Yet the final parting was still hard to accept. We miss the creative, passionate, opinionated woman she was before the dementia began its long, slow progress, and we miss the woman she became—sweet, quiet and smiling. I am comforted to know that she is, indeed, in a better place, reunited with our Heavenly Father, with Daddy and with my brother, Brad.
We were blessed by the support and loving care of our family and friends, and we are grateful to all of you who helped us through that tough time. The funeral and gathering
s were tearful events, but they were punctuated by moments of happiness: visiting with folks, reminiscing about Mom, seeing my five-month-old great-niece, Lola, for the first time, learning of the birth of my newest great-niece, Lucy, on the day of Mom’s funeral. How she would have loved those girls! And in some small way, she lives on in them and in the hearts of all who remember her. [The photo at right is the last picture of the kids with mom, taken in April 2006.]
The year was also eventful in other ways. In January, George embarked on a new career path as a Unit Manager in statement processing for HSBC. It has been a big change from food packaging. But as George says, he’s still managing to get a product (a credit card statement) into a package (an envelope)! He’s working the graveyard shift, which is great for the kids: he tucks them into bed at night, he’s home when they get out of school, and he’s here for dinner. It’s not so great for George and me—we are the proverbial “ships that pass in the night.” George leaves for work, and I go to bed. In the morning, we usually talk on our cell phones as I drive to work and as he drives home. We hope that he’ll have the opportunity to move to the day shift at some point. Soon.
George’s biggest news for 2006 is that he graduated from St. Mary’s College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Management! He went through the graduation ceremony in June and completed his last class in July. I don’t think it became real to George until this month, when he finally received his diploma in the mail. George worked so hard to achieve this, and we are so proud of him. And now he is spending all his freed-up time working through a nice long “honey-do” list!
Now, on to the kids—Natalie “graduated” from Spreckels Elementary School in June 2006, she turned 11 over the summer and she entered Buena Vista Middle School in the Fall as a 6th Grader. It’s still hard for me to believe. She had a great soccer season with the Buena Vista Bobcats, and she is in her 5th year of Girl Scouts. Natalie decided to continue with flute, and the difference between the 5th Grade Band Spring Concert and the Middle School Winter Concert was amazing!
Homework for Natalie is at an entirely new level now. She had the unfortunate experience of a group project gone bad, bringing home a resulting mid-term “D” in Science. She was devastated but vowed to do
extra credit to bring up her grade. She wrote a great report on the Mourning Dove, and she ended the trimester with an “A+”! Natalie went to Science Camp in October and became an official member of the Banana Slug Club by kissing one! She also attended her first dance (where there was NO kissing!). [See the picture at left, where you can see Nat's kindergarten photo on the table as she admires her 11-year-old self in the mirror before the dance.]
As I reflect on 2006, it is with both great joy and great sorrow. And I feel compelled to begin with the sad news that my mother, Mamie Pogue, passed away in September. She was 83, and her mental and physical health had been steadily declining. We have been preparing for this eventuality for years, losing her by inches. Yet the final parting was still hard to accept. We miss the creative, passionate, opinionated woman she was before the dementia began its long, slow progress, and we miss the woman she became—sweet, quiet and smiling. I am comforted to know that she is, indeed, in a better place, reunited with our Heavenly Father, with Daddy and with my brother, Brad.
We were blessed by the support and loving care of our family and friends, and we are grateful to all of you who helped us through that tough time. The funeral and gathering
s were tearful events, but they were punctuated by moments of happiness: visiting with folks, reminiscing about Mom, seeing my five-month-old great-niece, Lola, for the first time, learning of the birth of my newest great-niece, Lucy, on the day of Mom’s funeral. How she would have loved those girls! And in some small way, she lives on in them and in the hearts of all who remember her. [The photo at right is the last picture of the kids with mom, taken in April 2006.]The year was also eventful in other ways. In January, George embarked on a new career path as a Unit Manager in statement processing for HSBC. It has been a big change from food packaging. But as George says, he’s still managing to get a product (a credit card statement) into a package (an envelope)! He’s working the graveyard shift, which is great for the kids: he tucks them into bed at night, he’s home when they get out of school, and he’s here for dinner. It’s not so great for George and me—we are the proverbial “ships that pass in the night.” George leaves for work, and I go to bed. In the morning, we usually talk on our cell phones as I drive to work and as he drives home. We hope that he’ll have the opportunity to move to the day shift at some point. Soon.
George’s biggest news for 2006 is that he graduated from St. Mary’s College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Management! He went through the graduation ceremony in June and completed his last class in July. I don’t think it became real to George until this month, when he finally received his diploma in the mail. George worked so hard to achieve this, and we are so proud of him. And now he is spending all his freed-up time working through a nice long “honey-do” list!
Now, on to the kids—Natalie “graduated” from Spreckels Elementary School in June 2006, she turned 11 over the summer and she entered Buena Vista Middle School in the Fall as a 6th Grader. It’s still hard for me to believe. She had a great soccer season with the Buena Vista Bobcats, and she is in her 5th year of Girl Scouts. Natalie decided to continue with flute, and the difference between the 5th Grade Band Spring Concert and the Middle School Winter Concert was amazing!
Homework for Natalie is at an entirely new level now. She had the unfortunate experience of a group project gone bad, bringing home a resulting mid-term “D” in Science. She was devastated but vowed to do
extra credit to bring up her grade. She wrote a great report on the Mourning Dove, and she ended the trimester with an “A+”! Natalie went to Science Camp in October and became an official member of the Banana Slug Club by kissing one! She also attended her first dance (where there was NO kissing!). [See the picture at left, where you can see Nat's kindergarten photo on the table as she admires her 11-year-old self in the mirror before the dance.]
Leland is 7, and he adores all things Pokémon. He’s in the 2nd grade, and his favorite subject is still math. He played soccer and baseball in the Spring (we’ll never do that again!) and soccer again in the Fall. George really enjoyed coaching soccer, and Leland had a great time for his first season in baseball. Leland has moved up from a Tiger Cub and is now a Wolf Cub. In Scouts, he has enjoyed camping in a tent, and building and racing Pinewood Derby cars, a Cubmobile (Soapbox Racer) and a Rain-gutter Sailboat.
Both kids were in the Christmas pageant at church. Natalie had speaking parts as two prophets and as Joseph. Natalie was a little leery of playing a boy at first, but she did a great job as her clear voice carried to the back of the sanctuary.
Leland moved up from being a sheep to playing one of the three kings. As he was getting costumed, I overheard one of the moms who was helping ask, “What do you think, Leland?” to which he replied seriously, “Hmmm…I think I need a little more bling.” I could see the mom struggle to keep a straight face as she draped a length of sequined fabric around his shoulders. “That’s better,” he said before running off to join the other richly dressed kings. There was a bit of jostling among the three kings in their eagerness each to be the first to present their gifts to the baby Jesus. All in all, it was a heartwarming service.
I’m into my 11th year at XL Insurance, and I’ve kept busy with two major projects: the first, working on an IT project for our underwriting department, is almost at its conclusion, and the second, managing the rewrite/update of our 500+ page contract guide for design professionals, should wrap up in June. My travel lessened a bit in 2006, taking me only to Ft. Myers, Denver, Chicago and Philly.
And I’m still involved with the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. My team raised over $7,500 and the Salinas Relay raised over $1 million for this worthy cause!
On Father’s Day, we trekked down to the Point Sur Lighthouse, where George Sr. and Lil are docents. The lighthouse began operating in 1889. It was a windy but beautiful day, and our great tour guides J showed us wildflowers on the hike up the hill, points of historical significance, and what it was like to live in one of the remotest places on earth.
We towed our old trailer on a couple of memorable adventures in 2006. We returned to Benbow for a week with our friends, the Whitneys, where we enjoyed the creek, the lake, the pool, golfing (yes, George has finally started golfing!), seeing the Budweiser Clydesdales, good food and great company. This year, George got to stay for the whole week! Later in the summer we got an awesome campsite at Spirit West Coast in Laguna Seca (we could see the main stage from our front door!). Our niece, Brittany, came for the whole event, and the Mascarellos and the Pimentels also joined us for a day.
We also shared a magical Disneyland vacation with Sal, Merrielle, Domenic, Sofia, Ray and Pat Lucido. For the very first time, we stayed at the Disneyland hotel, and we enjoyed five days of park hopping, swimming in the Never Land pool, eating and having lots and lots of fun! We even enjoyed a grown-up night out with Merrielle and Sal when Narnie Pat and Popi Ray took all the kids to Medieval Times for an evening of feasting and jousting!
In other news: We enjoyed a springtime visit from Brad and his family before they shipped out to Germany. The Mills Oklahoma branch made a summertime trip west; Natalie and Leland had a lot of fun with their cousins Kaitlyn and Zack. George and I celebrated 17 years of marriage in November. Natalie and Leland joined Grandma and Papa for a mini-vacation in Pacific Grove during Christmas break. And we wrapped up the year with a trip to Twain Harte, where we joined the Pimentels and enjoyed skiing at Dodge Ridge.
I’ve enjoyed this opportunity to let you know what we’ve been up to, and I look forward to hearing your stories.
And until we meet again, may God keep you in the hollow of his hand –
With love from Diane,
and the rest of the Mika Clan:
George, Natalie & Leland
(and our cats Mister & Missy, too!)
Both kids were in the Christmas pageant at church. Natalie had speaking parts as two prophets and as Joseph. Natalie was a little leery of playing a boy at first, but she did a great job as her clear voice carried to the back of the sanctuary.
Leland moved up from being a sheep to playing one of the three kings. As he was getting costumed, I overheard one of the moms who was helping ask, “What do you think, Leland?” to which he replied seriously, “Hmmm…I think I need a little more bling.” I could see the mom struggle to keep a straight face as she draped a length of sequined fabric around his shoulders. “That’s better,” he said before running off to join the other richly dressed kings. There was a bit of jostling among the three kings in their eagerness each to be the first to present their gifts to the baby Jesus. All in all, it was a heartwarming service.
I’m into my 11th year at XL Insurance, and I’ve kept busy with two major projects: the first, working on an IT project for our underwriting department, is almost at its conclusion, and the second, managing the rewrite/update of our 500+ page contract guide for design professionals, should wrap up in June. My travel lessened a bit in 2006, taking me only to Ft. Myers, Denver, Chicago and Philly.
And I’m still involved with the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. My team raised over $7,500 and the Salinas Relay raised over $1 million for this worthy cause!
On Father’s Day, we trekked down to the Point Sur Lighthouse, where George Sr. and Lil are docents. The lighthouse began operating in 1889. It was a windy but beautiful day, and our great tour guides J showed us wildflowers on the hike up the hill, points of historical significance, and what it was like to live in one of the remotest places on earth.
We towed our old trailer on a couple of memorable adventures in 2006. We returned to Benbow for a week with our friends, the Whitneys, where we enjoyed the creek, the lake, the pool, golfing (yes, George has finally started golfing!), seeing the Budweiser Clydesdales, good food and great company. This year, George got to stay for the whole week! Later in the summer we got an awesome campsite at Spirit West Coast in Laguna Seca (we could see the main stage from our front door!). Our niece, Brittany, came for the whole event, and the Mascarellos and the Pimentels also joined us for a day.
We also shared a magical Disneyland vacation with Sal, Merrielle, Domenic, Sofia, Ray and Pat Lucido. For the very first time, we stayed at the Disneyland hotel, and we enjoyed five days of park hopping, swimming in the Never Land pool, eating and having lots and lots of fun! We even enjoyed a grown-up night out with Merrielle and Sal when Narnie Pat and Popi Ray took all the kids to Medieval Times for an evening of feasting and jousting!In other news: We enjoyed a springtime visit from Brad and his family before they shipped out to Germany. The Mills Oklahoma branch made a summertime trip west; Natalie and Leland had a lot of fun with their cousins Kaitlyn and Zack. George and I celebrated 17 years of marriage in November. Natalie and Leland joined Grandma and Papa for a mini-vacation in Pacific Grove during Christmas break. And we wrapped up the year with a trip to Twain Harte, where we joined the Pimentels and enjoyed skiing at Dodge Ridge.
I’ve enjoyed this opportunity to let you know what we’ve been up to, and I look forward to hearing your stories.
And until we meet again, may God keep you in the hollow of his hand –
With love from Diane,
and the rest of the Mika Clan:
George, Natalie & Leland
(and our cats Mister & Missy, too!)
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