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This has been an incredibly eventful year in Jeanie’s and my life. We celebrated both of our 50th birthdays, our 30 year wedding anniversary and became first time grandparents. Definitely one for the record books. Turning 50 is truly a once-in-a-lifetime-milestone event… so we put on a blowout party for ourselves to celebrate it. We called it our 100 year party! What a blast. After such a huge party for our birthday, we quietly celebrated our anniversary with a nice dinner at the Cheesecake Factory. I wonder how we will celebrate after our next 30 years?

In addition to this letter, I also create an collage of photos from the year. Click here to view the 2008 Collage

If you have been following my blog or facebook at all, you will not be surprised to hear that the Ogrens have been Molly-fied, which should not be misconstrued in any way to mean that they have been mollified. Mark continues to wrestle with the Navy at the Nuclear Power Training Unit. He is still on shore duty at the Naval prototype school and has just qualified Engineering Watch Supervisor. Congratulations, Mark. Danae has just one more semester left in her Music Therapy program at CSU, followed by an internship. She just recently interviewed for and won an intern position at Trident Regional Medical Center. Congrats Danae. Mark’s Rock Buggy project is nearly done and with Molly’s arrival, Mark says it probably will remain that way for a long time. (Maybe he has been mollified after all).

Melody is half way done with her second year of medical school at St. Louis University. We visited her last summer and met her mentor, Dr. Emily Farkas. Melody got to work with Dr. Farkas on a fellowship concentrating on cardio-thoracic surgery. It was so cool when she called one day to tell us that she had held a human heart in her hand. She is clearly doing what she loves. We just learned today (12/27) that she honored in her Respiratory class as well as her Heart class. Congratulations, Melody!

Erin and Justin have a new addition to their family. Athena is a cute lemon colored beagle whom I haven’t met yet. She has won over their hearts completely. Erin continues in grad school at UC Berkeley. She won a prestigious fellowship from the National Science Foundation to fund her studies. When she’s not hitting the books, Erin has fun being Erin. This year she did a zombie dance to Thriller and was one of a bunch of santas in Santarchy. Justin is working for Nolo, a publisher that specializes in legal self-help books. Like many businesses in the country, they have been trimming costs including laying off employees. This is causing Justin to have lots more work to do. They say that a crisis brings out the best in many people. Nolo is learning how much they depend on Justin as he takes over the role of customer support.

Kathryn has a kitty named Tag. I like to call him Kat’s cat. She is successfully making it on her own in Asheville. At the beginning of this year, she was working for Dollar General and doing very well. She qualified to become an assistant manager as soon as an opening came. Before that happened, a big wig from Dollar Tree was impressed by the way her store was run. He offered a position to her manager and her manager said the only way he was going was if he could bring Kat with him! So she is now an assistant manager at Dollar Tree! We are very proud of her.

Jeanie continues to work as an RN on a PRN (as needed) basis. She gets great feedback from her patients and truly loves the work she does. Her job is to care for mommies and their babies after they deliver. She loves teaching and caring for them. She is thrilled to be a grandma. She has taken the name, Gran from my grandmother Anderson. She was there for the delivery and has been helping Danae and Mark out by cleaning, cooking (and holding baby Molly as often as possible).

I have had one of the best years of my life this year. The events of the year that I mentioned before are more than just milestones… Being married to Jeanie for 30 years is a milestone that I am proud of. I always thought of 50 as old, but now that I am here, I feel like I am just getting to know myself. I wonder if I could start over with what I know now. Maybe that’s what grandchildren are for… to invest one’s self in. If so, I’m going to enjoy this part of the ride. I am completely smitten with Molly Nicole Ogren. Being a part of her life is going to be so very cool.

Wachovia is still where I trade most of my waking hours for money to live. With the current financial situation in the world, who knows what will happen. At the end of this year, Wachovia will be no more as it will be part of Wells Fargo. I hope to continue to work there, but we’ll take what comes. Recently, I have taken some new responsibilities that have stretched me. I knew it would be uncomfortable, but I also know that discomfort is a great environment to grow in. Whether the results of the project last, or whether they are replaced by another project, I am growing and learning things that will help me in other endeavours in life… maybe even help me reach my own dreams.

Since Molly arrived, we have been living up to our reputation as paparazzi parents (now grandparents). Here are three sets of four generations. What a tremendous blessing…

Andy, Jim, Danae and Molly

Mary, Jim, Danae and Molly

Ellen, Jeanie, Danae and Molly

2008 Collage (click to enlarge)