-
Mike's parents meet in the spring semester of 1980. Tom, Mike's dad had just transferred to South Dakota State, and Jackie's mutual friend introduced the two at a baseball game. Both were student athletes, Jackie was a gymnast and Tom played football
-
Tom and Jackie get married and have their first child in March of 1984, she is the first of 5 children. Tom enlisted in the Army and was in basic training while Jackie stayed home with Catherine, they were stationed in Oklahoma for 9 months
-
Carol and Tom jr. were born in El Paso Texas. Jackie volunteered at the thrift shop on the Army post where Tom was stationed. Tom gone on field exercised in the desert, his longest span away from home was 185 days training.
-
Michael was born in Germany during desert storm where Michael's dad was a fighting in. After moving back to the states the Olson's lived in Sierra Vista, Arizona where Mary the final child was born. This was the first time the Olson's did not live in military housing as a family. Jackie started working at a gymnastics center where all the children would exercise and train.
-
The Olson children were starting to become aware and grow up in an environment that was consistent. Although back living on a military base, the children were old enough to experience traveling around California sight seeing, but really had no idea yet of what life outside a military base looked like.
-
After living in California, Mike's family moved to Virginia where the start of a stable family life would begin to take root. Mike's oldest sister would attend George Mason University only 40 minutes from home, but it would be the first time the family dynamic would be without its oldest sibling.
-
Mike attended Wake Forest University on a football scholarship and Mary went to Virginia Tech University. Mike's older siblings had all finished school by the time Mary was in her first year at VT. Catherine was married and having her first child and Carol was engaged. Tom jr was accepted into law school in Chicago.
-
Mike's little sister gets married to her boyfriend from freshman year of college at Virginia Tech. Catherin and Carol are now married with children and Tom Jr. is a practicing lawyer in Chicago. After a bout 20 year bout with mental health issues and a 10 year struggle with substance abuse Mike leaves his job working with children in Baltimore City, post rehab, Mike is 2 years sober.
-
After struggling with addiction and his own mental health issues, now 3 years sober Mike is determined in his vocation to become an addiction counselor. With the support of his mother, father and thriving siblings, Mike with the unconditional companionship of his weimaraner dog Yuri, has been studying Psychology and Addiction Counseling through the Master of Arts program at Aspen University.