I'm hoping people still read these stories every once in awhile because, although my mother tried her best to share an experience between Mike and I, I'd like to share it from my perspective. At the service two years ago, we were asked to come up and speak if we had any stories to tell. It sounds silly now, but at the time I felt out of place to tell my story of Mike. But now it just seems unfair to keep this reminder of who he is to myself. 

Ever since I met Mike so many years ago, he always treated me like family and opened up his heart to me. And he was like that with everyone. Mike was the kind of person that wouldn't just listen to you, but he would actually hear you. Every conversation, no matter how small, meant the world to him because he was spending time with you and enjoying your company. You could just tell by the way he looked at you while you spoke that he was there for you, because Mike gave his heart to everyone, which made us better people.

The greatest lesson I learned from him, besides to try new things from my mother's sardine story, was to always offer a hand to someone in need. My family and I were at a friend's birthday party one night when I was probably 11 or 12, and Mike showed up later that night. Considering it was mostly adults, I took refuge in the garage where there was a pool table, which wasn't that smart considering I didn't know how to play pool. But I sat in there anyways and pretended I knew how to hit the ball well for awhile, and then Mike walked in. And he took the time to explain to me the rules of pool and even tought me a few trick shots. I'm proud to say I'm a fairly decent player now thanks to him. At the time it seemed like just a nice gesture, but now I realize that he took time away from a party with his friends to teach me a simple game like pool. Although the party was probably more fun than dealing with a frustrated pre-teen, Mike took advantage of an opportunity to help someone out and possibly make their day better. And from those little actions, Mike got the biggest satisfaction. Satisfaction that everyone could see from his legendary whole-hearted smile.

Because of that, and many other reasons, Mike is my idol. I aspire to be like Mike and take advantage of every opportunity to turn someone's day around, and hopefully from that I'll develop a whole-hearted smile of my own that will inspire someone else.
 

   Where to begin?  Mike & Kathy as a couple will forever be a part of our hearts and with that comes many wonderful memories.  Of course, how can I forget when Kathy & I lived together as "Swinging' Singles" in Scottsdale and she came home from her nursing job at the hospital telling me all about the "Cute guy who worked in the pharmacy". Well, of course, he was REALLY CUTE and the rest is history.
    Kathy & Mike were with me when I had my first "official date" with Ric on St. Patrick's Day at the Dirty Drummer. The Green Beer was flowing! Since that time the 4 of us had so many fun times together!
      Mike & Ric planned a quick trip to Roosevelt Lake in Mike's new Jeep for a long weekend. (Note NEW JEEP) Well, it turned out to be an extended weekend when they essentially "SUNK" the jeep at the lake. When they didn't come home on Sunday night as expected we got worried, and, since this was before cell phones, we waited and waited until Peter called Kathy to let her know that Mike had called him to tell him they were ok and they would be home the next day.  Well, we thought for sure this was a ploy to get an extra day or two off at the lake but once they got home it was obvious they really had sunk the Jeep.  Kathy marched out to take a look (possibly doubting their story) and when she saw all the water in the dials on the instrument panel, well...Not funny then, funnny later!
     Let us not forget the story of Michael convincing Ric to shave his beard a couple of hours before our wedding...uh yeah...I had never seen Ric without a beard and was quite shocked while walking down the isle to see him clean-shaven howevever, I have to give it to Mike, I really liked Ric without the beard better! And, of course, they went to The Dirty Drummer for a qiuck drink before the wedding. Oh that Michael! So traditional! :)
     And then there were all those Saturday nights in the "Lean Years" when Kath & Mike, Ric and I played cards, mostly Spades & Hearts.  We would get together with beer & snacks and play until the wee hours of the morning. Kathy & I didn't win very often and found out later that the guys had a "secret code" between the two of them in order to win!  Really?
     Mike was like the brother I never had.  A good example of this is when I was pregnant with Casey and I went into labor.  It might not be surprising to hear that Ric was playing softball and didn't not know this was happening. (Again, before cell phones)  Mike & Kathy and Grandma Dorothy took me to the hospital. I think of it as a "trial run" for Mike because Annie came just about a year later so he had a chance to "practice".
     When we lived in San Digeo Kathy, Mike & Annie came to visit us many times.  Of course we spent lots of fun times together at the beach, Sea World, the San Diego Zoo and our back yard pool.  
     I'll never forget when Renee was born and Grandma Dorothy saw her at the hospital when she was just hours old. She told me "Oh my gosh, she looks just like a Mini-Mike"!  
      When Molly & Sam asked Mike to be a Reader at their wedding it meant so much to them, and to all of us. Molly says when she got teary eyed during the ceremony and looked at Mike, who was also teary eyed, she could see him smiling at her and feel his strength and love which was a big help.
      In the last few years, Mike got into "smoking meat" thanks to a few trips to KC and helping with a few BBQ contests as well as helping with Molly & Sam's reception.  True to form, Mike researched the whole meat smoking process, bought a smoker and became "Pro-Meat-Smoker".
      I could go on for ever telling stories about Mike & Kathy. Mike was such a huge asset when he joined our family.  We will never forget how much he helped with our parents and how much we loved having him as a brother-in-law, uncle and son-in-law.  I can speak for all of us that he will be forever missed and never forgotten.  Kathy and Mike had such a special bond, and as I write this with tears in my eyes, I know that Kathy must feel blessed to have had such a wonderful husband and she will miss him always.  We are all better having known and loved Michael.

When we lived in Wisconsin we had a large swimming pool in the back yard.  Mike and I always went swimming and sometimes for hours.  We were the two kids that never got cold or tired and swam all afternoon.  I was about 7 or 8 years old and I was so frustrated because I still couldn't swim.  Mike thought I was old enough and so when I came to him all frustrated he said, "Okay, today I'm going to teach you how to swim."  Needless to say, I was very excited.  I ran in the house got my swimsuit on and met him by the pool.  He was standing there with my life jacket.  The expression on my faced went from excitement to disappointment.  "Why are you holding my life jacket?", I asked.  He told me to put it on because he had an idea.  He told me he read something somewhere and wanted to see if it worked.  I guess you could say I was his guinea pig.  I reluctantly put on the life jacket and stood there.  He said, "Okay, jump in the pool and swim around the perimeter 100 times."  "WHAT!!! One hundred times???", I screamed.  "Yep, one hundred times", he said with a little chuckle.  I wasn't quite sure if this was another one of his pranks or if this was legit, but I went along with it.  He told me to count out loud each time I swam around once to the diving board.  So around I went.  Each time I passed the diving board I counted out loud the number of lap I was on.  By the time I got to 25 I was pretty pooped.  I just remember him laughing and laughing and insisting that this was going to work.  I told him he was crazy and that I never heard of anyone learning how to swim this way.  He told me to keep going.  By the time I reaced 75 I was ready to quit.  He told me I could, but that if I wanted him to teach me how to swim we'd have to start all over again the next time starting back at one.  There was no way I was going through that again so I kept swimming.  Finally, I got to 100 and he told me I could get out of the pool.  We met on the deck and he told me to hand him my life jacket.  So I took it off and handed it to him.  Suddenly, he picked me up and just threw me in the pool.  Not along the edge where I could grab on to it but smack dab in the middle of the deep end!!!!  I swam with all my might to the edge and climbed out.  I ran after him and yelled and screamed at him, "Are you NUTS!  I could have drowned!  You don't just throw someone in the pool!!!"  He just stood there with his arms crossed smiling.  I was shaking all over because of what he'd done and didn't think there was anything to smile about.  "What are you smiling about!" I screamed, "You could have killed me!"  He laughed and said, "Number one, I would never have let you drown.  I was right here the whole time and if I thought you needed help I would have jumped in and saved you.  Second, you just swam to the edge all by yourself!  Don't you get it!  YOU CAN SWIM!!!, IT WORKED!!"  I stopped and thought about it and realized he was right.  So I turned around and jumped into the shallow end and began to swim out into the deep end.  Sure enough, I could swim!  I was so excited I don't think I got out of that pool for hours.  We had many fun years swimming together in that pool.  He was just the greatest!