Aberdeen Village Community Matters January 2017

Community Matters Aberdeen Village

January 2017

Finding focus in the New Year Did you stay awake until midnight on NewYear’s Eve? If you did, you’re ahead of me. I think Diane Gunsolley that I can count on one hand the chaplain times in my life that I’ve actually made it to midnight. I consider it a successful NewYear’s Eve if I make it to 11 p.m. and cheer as the ball drops in Times Square.

My most memorable celebration was NewYear’s Eve 1979. I was spending the year in Spain studying at a university in Madrid and somehow ended up at their version of Times Square called the Puerta del Sol. As the clock gonged announcing the new NEW YEAR, continued on page 2 CEO, continued on page 4

New beginnings Eugene “Gene” and Barbara Mika have been experiencing a lifetime of new beginnings together. It all started on August 26, 1927. Gene Mika was born, and just two short days later, Barbara was born.

Unbeknownst to them, they were in the same hospital and were side by side in the nursery. Little did they know that would lead them to their most recent new beginning.

Gene and Barbara officially met at Wyandotte High School. Gene teased Barbara quite a lot and she just didn’t like him because “he was just way too BEGINNINGS, continued on page 2

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BEGINNINGS, continued from page 1

sure of himself.” It wasn’t until she started spending more time with her best friend that she realized Gene was her best friend’s brother.

Barbara would spend time at their home and saw some things that impressed her.

Barbara saw that Gene was so helpful to his mother. One day she was visiting and he was wearing an apron with clothespins on it and one in his mouth; he was helping his mother with the laundry. Another time she saw Gene helping his father fix their only vehicle. He was hard at work with his head down under the hood. Barbara also saw that

Community Matters is published monthly for residents and friends of Aberdeen Village by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at: PresbyterianManors.org.

Tim Allin, executive director Chrissie Ammann, director of sales and marketing To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact Chrissie Ammann, director of sales and marketing, cammann@pmma.org.

Telephone: 913-599-6100 Fax: 913-599-3810 Address: 17500 W. 119th St., Olathe, KS 66061-9524 Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.

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Community Matters January 2017

Gene was kind and helpful to the neighborhood kids. For the first time she saw a different side to Gene.

Barbara joked that she had established a four-date rule before a kiss. She just thought if a boy was able to go on four dates with you before he got a kiss then he was obviously interested enough in you, but with Gene it was different. She ended up breaking her own rule for him and kissed him on their first date! Who knew that was the first of new beginnings to come? They dated just six months and started an important new beginning in May of 1946 when they were married. They have been married ever since, 69 years to be exact.

Creamery Equipment Company and Barbara after 18 years at KU Medical Center. There have been countless other new beginnings, but their most recent new beginning led them to Aberdeen Village. That beautiful home of 63 years was becoming too much, so they made the choice to focus on themselves and enjoy a more carefree lifestyle.

“We had earned this time to do something just for us.”

They have been at Aberdeen since Oct. 21, 2016.

“We wake up every morning and think, we don’t have to water the lawn or cut the grass or call a repair man, and that is so nice,” said Barbara.

The next new beginning came when they decided to build their first home together. They bought the lot in 1953 and lived in that home for 63 years. They experienced many more new beginnings with the birth of their son and daughter. Then came three grandchildren. Gene retired after 51 years at the same Dairy and

Both Gene and Barbara agree that the choice to make Aberdeen Village their next new beginning was a good one. “We love it here, and everyone is just so nice.” When asked what they have learned from their latest new beginning, they agreed that you are never too old and it is never too late to start something new!

NEW YEAR, continued from page 1

Eve just as we Americans do before entering hot dog eating contests.

year, I almost choked to death by popping 12 grapes in my mouth (as was their custom). Not just 12 grapes —rather 12 huge grapes with seeds.

Why would I do such a crazy thing?

All I can say is, when in Rome…

These days, I’m much older and wiser in my NewYear’s Eve plans. I focus on NewYear’s resolutions by committing to eat right, exercise and lose weight.

Truth be told, I’m not resolute with my resolutions and always fall short of the goal. How wise is it to do the same thing year after year and expect different results?

I want you to remember that was about five years before the Heimlich maneuver was commonly used.Yes, it was back in the good ole days of slapping people on the back until This past November, Rev. Jodi they cried. Today, I imagine that all Mathews of South Broadland Spaniards take a refresher course in the Heimlich leading up to NewYear’s NEW YEAR, continued on page 4 Like us on Facebook

Aberdeen Village’s Post-Acute To Home (PATH®) program isn’t just about getting you home— it’s about getting you back to your life.

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I wonder what is on God’s heart for Presbyterian Church joined us for our 2017? How should I pray? Could Sunday evening vespers service. In her anything be more important than my waistline? sermon, she challenged us to look at the big picture. Rev. Mathews said if This year, I want to come into we turn and look at God, our small agreement with everything God is thoughts will enlarge to line up with doing. I’m asking him to touch me his. with the people, movements and NEW YEAR, continued from page 2

nations that are touching him. And because I know that my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, I also plan to eat right, exercise and lose weight. According to 1 Timothy 4:8, physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life, and the life to come.

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Social workers help residents We will focus on how our campus social workers help residents live life to the fullest in an upcoming issue of Community Matters. How has your campus social worker been an advocate for you? How have you benefited from your campus social worker’s efforts to assist you and your family?

If you’ve got a story to share, contact Director of Sales and Marketing Chrissie Ammann and your story could be featured in an upcoming edition of Community Matters.

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Community Matters January 2017

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