1994 has been quite a year, so I'll try to bring you all up to date on the Nadas family.

Krisztina (21) graduated in May from Michigan State University with honors and as Phi Beta Kappa. She then spent the summer doing a job which is totally out of her field - that of lifeguard coordinator at the YMCA. She did it well, although she spent more hours at work than she ever dreamed she would (this is very much in character - she is always over-extended). This fall, Krisztina started graduate school in a Ph.D. program at the University of Chicago. She is studying cellular biology and molecular genetics. Fortunately, she is on a grant which covers her tuition, fees, and insurance, as well as paying her a stipend toward her living expenses. She decided that, as a college graduate, she'd like an apartment of her own, so in June she moved about one mile from us. Her roommate of choice was her brother - for companionship, trust, and even protection.

Gyula/Jay (18) moved in with his sister following his graduation, with honors and as an Illinois State Scholar, from Marmion Military Academy. Leaving school where he lived with his friends and going to live as an adult has been a difficult transition - it does get lonely at times. But his work and school keep him busy. He is in the pre-pharmacy program at the University of Illinois Chicago campus, which means he commutes to school, about an hour each way. He is experimenting with new outlets for his artistic talent, and some of his newest work, painting with textures - on canvas, or on plexiglas, is really exciting. Art is not his career option, but it is one of his favorite avocations, along with music.

Zsolt (13) has an avocation which takes much time and energy, but one he's very good at, and that is swimming. To his surprise, he qualified for the YMCA state meet in butterfly, not in breast which was his best stroke. He swam as one of the top thirty fliers in the state. This season his most successful stroke is backstroke. If he'd only build up his endurance, he'd be incredible in the individual medley. Zsolt is keeping step with his older siblings in that no decisions about the following year are made early. He still doesn't know where he is going to high school, but will in a month because he must! His trumpet playing is improving in leaps with his new teacher, and he can hardly wait to get his braces off since they interfere with his mouth. For those who haven't seen him lately and still think of him as a little boy, I must disillusion you. He is six feet tall, speaks with a deep voice, and has a distinct black mustache which he must shave weekly (poor kid).

Tas (8) is another state swimmer. He also qualified in butterfly last spring (do swimming strokes run in families?). If he stays healthy and strong for another few months, it looks like he'll be in the state meet again this year. He has already swum qualifying times in fly and back, and is less than one second off in free. Unfortunately, he must swim these times at the district meet in order to actually qualify for state. Tas received his First Communion in the spring, culminating months of preparation. He serves Mass every Sunday at the Hungarian church, along with Zsolt, and in fact, all three boys were on the altar serving for a Mass celebrated by Cardinal Bernardine. School is too easy for Tas, as it was for his siblings at this stage, but in spite of that, he is learning a lot. He practices piano diligently and with some success, and is still very active in Aikido where he is now in the fourth level of promotion. These activities are very important for Tas, giving him opportunities to harness his incredible energy toward some purpose. I wish we could bottle that energy ....

I (Erika) am also very involved with swimming (surprised?). This is my fourth year on the swim team parents' club board of directors, and this year we successfully hosted a huge invitational meet with about 350 swimmers. I was deeply involved with the organization of this meet, and have learned a lot. Now if only I can apply some of what I learned about organization to my personal life.... In the meantime, I got my certification in fitness leadership, in Red Cross first aid and CPR, in American Heart CPR, and in life guarding (see, I even get wet sometimes!). I teach senior citizen fitness at the YMCA, 2 hours, twice a week. I have discovered that I love teaching, and in spite of the multitude of personalities (about 90), I find that my seniors like my classes. Of course, dealing with this particular age group is challenging, since they are so very outspoken. I continue to work in the business, programming, and still get a great deal of pleasure out of it.

Gyuszi/Julius has been extremely busy in the last year. He claims that the reason he has so little hair is that he wears so very many hats, and constantly changing them has worn away the hair. He is professor, department chair, union grievance chair, on the panel developing the distance learning program, on the technical advisory board, designer/analyst/programmer on the professional side; he is father, husband, Hungarian scout treasurer, volunteer technical consultant to numerous friends and organizations, handyman, avid spanish language student, personally. This year, he received special recognition. Wright College has named him "Distinguished Service Professor" which is actually a lifetime appointment to the college of D.S.P.'s. They get their own gowns, have their own place in convocations, and are an honored group. We were delighted to have his work appreciated.

The Leaning Tower YMCA, where Krisztina and I work and the home of the swim team, selected the Nadas family as their "family of the year" for 1994. This entitled us to a day of fun and a dinner in the grand ballroom of Navy Pier. Another family was selected for the position for the entire metropolitan region, but I was thrilled to be recognized for the work we do.

The Hungarian Scouts involve pretty much the whole family. Gyuszi is a scoutmaster and helps in the training program for the patrol leaders. Krisztina is an assistant leader, and works with the local girls. Gyula spent much of his summer preparing for the difficult and demanding assistant leadership program and camp and he, too, is now a certified assistant leader, working with 15-17 year old boys. Zsolt also prepared this summer, for the patrol leadership training. He was very successful at the camp and has a patrol of his own, 9-11 year olds. Tas is "only" an active scout but is very enthusiastic (usually). I am "scout Mom", with all that that entails.

Have a wonderful 1995!