Chase Pappas

Tonight, at our meeting was the first time I cried for Michael. I'm not really sure why I hadn't yet.... I mean I was devastated when I first found out. But nothing came from that news. I pushed on this whole week with my store, my team, and my feelings tucked away in my heart. I cry as I type this message... I was able to step back from all the clapping, the hollering and the rumble from the whole store tonight and see how much of an impact Michael had on all of us, me included. As I listened, I thought of one thing, and that was Michael and how he would have reacted if he knew how we were in the midst of celebrating his life by giving him all this cheer. So I guess for a moment I knew he was around watching us and staring back and clapping with us, and I felt that through him. I want to thank everyone who I've worked with the past 2 years for making work not feel like work... Everyday I'm thankful to know, converse, and see such amazing faces day in and day out. I will try to become what I strive to be at Apple and float away on to my next goal one day in the future... But most of all THANK YOU... I can't tag every Apple individual because that would take days, but just know that you're in my thoughts always...

Amy Bartlett

Amongst all the usual business, we celebrated Michael's 1 year Apple anniversary at a store meeting tonight. We recognized his achievements and passion to learn more. We watched a touching video made by a coworker about how he's touched our lives. And, finally, we gave him his Apple clap out. It was the longest, loudest, most heart felt clap out I've ever witnessed in the nearly 3 years I've been at Apple. He CHANGED 168 of us. We've learned how to let each other in and how to calm down and enjoy the ride. Thank you to all of you for loving us just because we loved him. 

"Cheers"

Stephanie Forrest

I was lucky enough to have a few classes with Michael at NMSU. The first time I saw him was in our 7am Drawing II class. I think one of our first conversations was: "What were we thinking taking such an early class?" I remember being intrigued by him instantly. Exuding confidence and a carefree attitude, Michael was obviously someone special. I remember being terrified in that class, having no confidence in my drawing. Every so often Michael would waltz around the room, with his buds in his ears and check out everyone's work. He later told me he thought my drawings were some of the best in the class, which I never believed, ha. I think Michael wanted people to feel good about themselves, feel like they should be proud of whatever it is they are doing. That only confirms what an amazing heart he had. 

We were given short breaks in the class, no more than 10 minutes if we were lucky. Michael and I started talking during these breaks. We talked about everything, from Obama to music to his trip to Japan. Also artists that we were interested in and ANYTHING funny. (Obama because this was right before his first election, I used to wear an Obama t-shirt and it sparked Michael's interest.) Soon Michael and I started hanging out, running amok all over town. 

The last time I saw him, a friend and I went to his house here in Las Cruces, Jay Stubbs you were there too. We had dinner and drinks and lots of laughs. And then the adventurous side came out of us. Michael was trying to show me how to skateboard down the street. I was frozen solid on one board while he was next me on the longboard. Holding my hands and doing all the work, he was yelling: "You got it! You got it! Look you're doing it!" We laughed and laughed, and he never let me fall. He was such a sweetheart that way, always wanting everyone to get involved and have fun. 

Sometimes his smile will pop into my thoughts randomly and it warms my heart. I will never remember him as ANYTHING BUT sweet, sincere, ambitious and full of life. I will miss him dearly. 

P.S. The only picture that I have of him was taken with a 35mm camera. He was packing a suitcase to go home for the holidays. He is sitting on the suitcase trying to zip it up. It was almost impossible with all the clothes and shoes he was trying to take with him. He told me, "Stop taking pictures of this. It's not important. Take pictures of important stuff." He then grabbed my camera and took about 5 or 6 pictures of me!

Hayden Gurman

I had the chance to work with Mike for a summer. He lifted the office with his amazing laugh and humor. He has the biggest heart and can get a long with anybody. Mike was just a good guy and would do anything for anyone. Prays and thoughts are going to the family.

 

Donations Through September 6th - $2250

Holly Vega

This hunt was for you Mikee love uncle Carlos and cousins

Sarah Nyberg

I wasn't as close with Michael Vega as most of you were. We worked with each other at Apple, and our conversations with very surface talking occasionally about how his vegetarian Chipotle burritos were the size of Texas, To Die For, or talking about his rides. The Monday before he past away I had a strange feeling towards him at work. I had noticed how we didn't talk as much as we had in the past, and for some reason that I can't explain it bothered me. I didn't give it much thought then because he wasn't going anywhere. We worked together and I didn't see that changing.

Since the night of August 28th I have regretted not getting to know Michael more. After hearing stories about him from close friends or Yvette, I feel like I missed out on what could have been a closer friendship with Michael. I now understand how important it is to embrace people that give you a good impression. I recognize that what I felt on that Monday was just a coincidence

but for myself I'm using this as a lesson that I will carry with me.

As far as the bike. I told my girlfriend Corrie my idea and she said I could use her mountain bike. When I went to my parents house after work on Wednesday I couldn't find it anywhere. It had been stolen, and I panicked. My dad was home at the time and I was really emotional because I knew I wanted to follow through with my idea and had already purchased everything to add to the bike. I wanted to contribute something to raise awareness at the site that it wasn't just a car accident, but an accident involving a bike. I wanted drivers passing by to see a bike and hopefully drive safer. After expressing this to my dad he offered his bike from his classroom. My dad has worked at Upland High School for over 25 years. He has had the same classroom and the same bike. To quickly maneuver around campus he would ride from his tucked away classroom at the north end of campus to the office on the south side of campus. Since I can remember I've had his past/present students ask me if I was related to Mr. Nyberg, the "old hippie guy with the bike." Since my dad is a drawing and painting teacher, the bike was always in an art classroom. My dad used it every day, until a few days before Michael past away. After picking it up at his classroom my dad explained how he almost took it to a bike shop to have something replaced the previous day. I never thought I would say this, but I'm glad my girlfriend's mountain bike got stolen and that I had to use my dad's. I'm pretty sure Michael would be glad too.

Corrie and I both in Colorado and will not be there on Saturday, but our hearts are with all of you. ♥

Sarah Key

Like Mike, Incubus has been one of my favorite bands since my teen years. I've always found comfort in music, but this song in particular helped me deal with the loss of a few people in my life. I haven't listened to it in a few years, but it played last night and I wanted to share it. As Jay and others from Las Cruces, NM travel to pay their respects my thoughts go with them.

Yvette Favela

It's taken me a little over a week to come to terms with posting anything "memorializing" Michael. But after a gnarly 5 mile run and the biggest runners high I've had since college I think I'm finally brave enough to say what I need to say.

Michael and I blind sided one another so hard and so fast that neither of us even considered coming up for air. He was so intriguing and challenging in the most positive way that I couldn't help but be drawn to him. I would give anything to see his face light up one more time after walking through the gates at Coachella...The beginning of our relationship was interesting to say the least; because of our common ground at Apple we tried to keep things quiet but when you live 2 blocks from the store people start to notice a certain grey bike parked outside of your house everyday...ha. 

Forgive me for wanting to keep certain things to myself but to put it bluntly we were inseparable almost every single day and night; and although our time was short lived know that he left a little more than an impression on me. Michael's heart and soul were 100% true to everything he believed in, even when he took his cape off and slipped a little bit. I've never experienced someone who was truly themselves in every aspect of life. 

Anyhoo...story about Michael...hm. 

I dunno why I feel like sharing this particular story but I'm guessing it's because you can see his mannerisms perfectly in the heat of the moment. 

I was rummaging through my purse for something Michael needed and he was walking towards me saying something ridiculous or that he was hungry as usual. Well, he was playing with a lighter the entire time he was walking towards me...you know when you play with a lighter and in reality you're just wasting the butane...I wasn't looking up at all just nodding my head at him and he wasn't paying any attention whatsoever just rambling and playing with the lighter...for those of you who don't know, my hair is almost to my belly button. Once again worlds collided and needless to say I threw a fit. 1. He lit my hair on fire, 2. My house smelled like burnt hair, & 3. He threw his arms up, shook his head in that way he does when he thinks something is just so outrageous, and yells "PUES YOU WALKED INTO IT!" Imagine the look on my face when he said that? But I couldn't keep myself from laughing because why on earth would he yell 'PUES' and it really wasn't anyone's fault. And you better believe he babied me afterwards. ha. :)

Our adventures were so random with so many of them ending with the sun coming up or some sort of mexican food to hold us over for the day...we were evenly matched. And although we had a long way to go, our imperfectly perfect relationship was based on the fact that we knew the secret to a phenomenal relationship was to fall in love over and over again. Calling us cheesy doesn't even BEGIN to describe it...trust me we discussed the cheesiness. haha.

He made me a better person, and was a constant reminder that life is captured as a series of moments and learning experiences. He was my exact version of love, I'm guessing thats why we caught each other off guard the way we did. He loved the stupid memes I would send him, complained about the amount of pillows I had but I could never find him in my bed because he loved to "hide in the fluffines." He even watched Lilo & Stich with me (why on earth I felt the need to watch that movie I will never know, but I knew he liked it because he giggled the entire time.) He even kept me so calm that after almost 24 years of biting my nails I've stopped completely. 

He was so good to me, the best.

We'll go down this road 'til it turns from color to black and white.

 

"Cheers"

 

Adventures in Hiroshima

We all traveled to Hiroshima for a class trip. Here are some pics of our adventures, which include sightseeing, and handstands :)

The city of Hiroshima

After a long day of touring the city. Bas, Juli, me and Michael.

This is why we love Japan. ;)

And this is what happens after we make friends with the beer machine.

I don't know why we thought this was so funny at the time :)

Always clowning around :)

Donations Through September 4th - $1500

Keep the donations coming. This is really helping make things somewhat lighter for the Vega Family.

Sincerely - Drew Mycal Pearson

Virginia Shaffer Fesunoff

It was October 1996, and the Vega's and Fesunoff's pulled their kids from their regularly scheduled classes at Hawthorne Elementary for a long weekend of camping and fishing in the Sierras. The destinations? Rock Creek Lake and Silver Lake. Rock Creek Lake is very high (in altitude) and very cold in the fall. We fished by day and shivered in our tents at night – it was so cold that our water bottles froze solid every night. We had our challenges - the propane didn't work so well first thing in the morning or late in the evening. Early one morning a bear visited our campsite and we were awakened by Michelle and the kids banging pans and yelling at it to scare it away. The bear tried to make off with Andy's tackle box. Powerbait must smell pretty good to bear. 

During this time, we had a chance observe the Vega family in all their boisterous glory. Michael had his own role in the family – protective big brother to Danielle, catalyst to J

ordan's misdeeds and deliberate thorn in his parent's sides. He was always ready with a joke or a comeback - sporting that cocky smile even at a young age, and always dancing just out of arm's reach and retribution.

On this trip, I had an opportunity to see another side of Michael. My husband and I decided to hike further up the mountain to the Little Lakes Valley – our own kids declined the pleasure, but Michael wanted to come with us. At 9 years old, I wasn't sure how he'd do on the hike, but Michael surprised me. He kept up without complaining. He was determined and focused. He'd left the joker behind in our campsite and brought a different kid on that hike. He was thoughtful and appreciative of our surroundings. He loved all the alpine lakes and little wild flowers. My husband recalls that he had a camera and was taking photographs. He seemed to really love the high mountain peaks and the challenges of hiking at altitude.

We had more adventures on that trip – renting a boat on Silver Lake and staying in the cabins. We went to the ghost town at Bodie and saw naked foreigners bathing at Hot Creek, but the best moments for me were on that hike with Michael. I was really glad we took him on that hike – to be able to see the Sierras through someone else's eyes gives you a new clarity and appreciation. It also gave me a new appreciation for Michael.

Life is so full of paradoxes. We are preparing for our oldest daughter to get married next week. (She and Michael were in Kindergarten together.) One moment I am so full of joy preparing for the event, but the next I remember that Michael is gone and my friend dear Michelle is experiencing the worst of heartaches imaginable. I start to feel that nagging despair again, but it occurs to me that Michael would NOT want that. 
His legacy must be Peace, Love and Joy. That is my wish to you Michelle, Andy, Jordan and Danielle. Peace, Love and Joy.

Vessie Pearson IV

I cried when I received a text from my dad explaining that Mike had been killed. I know that crying in response to Mike's passing was not unique to me. I'd imagine that most people who learned they would never again experience Mike's contagious smile and positive demeanor shed tears when they discovered they would have to rely on a memory of those things as opposed to the reality of those things. The interesting thing about my tears for Mike, however, is that I generally don't cry. In fact, I can't remember the last time that I did cry. Yet the day I received the news about Mike, I could not hold back the tears. I cried on the phone with my mom, in the drive thru at In-N-Out, and even in front of co-workers during work. But why? Mike and I were friends, but not close friends. Our friendship was derived from the fact that Mike was my brother Drew's best friend and the fact that Mike had worked for my company a couple of years ago. That's really it. Yes, death of our family members deserve tears, but rarely have those events produced tears for me. This time was different, though, and here's why:

The world needs more people like Mike. Rarely have I met a less judgmental and accepting person than Mike. I can honestly say that I never heard Mike utter a negative word about another person. In all my interactions with Mike he made me feel important… like he really cared about my well being. His "how are you" seemed to really mean something. When he worked for my company, Mike always demonstrated respect for his co-workers, despite the fact that all of them had come from different backgrounds than him. Most importantly, I believe Mike's passing had such an emotional impact on me because of the impact I know he had on my brother. Mike has always supported my brother like nobody else in the world. Always listening, encouraging and loving. A person can't do anything greater for me than to love my family… and Mike did that.  For that, and everything else I have already mentioned, I will always honor, love and miss Mike.

Mike.. enjoy your peace. You deserve it.

Lenna Victoria Cordova

Michael and I were roomies when he first moved to New Mexico.  I loved him from the start, he was amazing and sooooo much fun.  I loved his style, his awesome taste in music, and his spray painting skills, to name a few.  We would ride our bikes to class together and make fun of all the weird people in Las Cruces.  He made us laugh all the time, and his smile was incredibly contagious.... I will miss him forever.  Love you Michael Vega! 

Colby Denaple Vasquez

Mike and I first became friends in high school. We used to talk late on the phone about everything and anything, go to Miguel's Jr on our lunches, and I'll never forget when I flipped out on the day he walked into class and his dread locks were gone! He was an amazing person and I am thankful to have known him before he left us. Mike - I love you and will always miss you. You have left a mark in my life. Vega Family - You are in my prayers. 

Courtney Jones

One of my favorite stories about Michael (and such a great mental picture) is when he started kindergarten and he wanted to wear suits and have a briefcase. Even when he was little, he was special. He wanted to be his own person and pave his own path in life. He was always thoughtful and kind. When I babysat, he would tell Jordan to behave : ) he would talk so sweetly to his little sister. He was a wonderful & unique person. All my love and prayers to his friends and family.

Donations Through Sep 2nd - $1120

Momma Vega

Hey Mikee, remember all those parties you had and told me just a few friends were coming over and it usually ended up like this? Well they came back for more tonight! Well lots of them have been keeping us company every single night! They still remember my rules and follow them. No peeing on my grass, throw away your trash, recycle the bottles and water my plants with half full water bottles! You were a Great friend with Great kids! I Love You Mucho! Momma

Sajid Ahmed

RIP Michael Vega...it was a pleasure working with you. I knew you would be an asset to the team from the moment we brought you on. It was only a matter of time before you far exceeded those expectations. Thanks for the memories,
"Cheers"

Dawn Barnicoat Emberson Bemiller

Taken Tuesday Evening from BJ In Rancho Cucamonga August 28, 2012

Nicole Romoff

Michael, I miss you so much. You were so loved by so many people. I will forever cherish our memories together. You were an amazing cousin and I love you so much. Ride on Michael Ray!

Neva Loeb

First thing that comes to my mind when I wake up is your beautiful smile, and the last thing I see is the same. You did a whole lot of that.

Dennis Quijano

"If I could make a SUPER STAR BAND, I would have Brandon Boyd singing with Mike playing guitar, Flea on bass and Brandon From the used play drums." -MV

Caroline Pearson

At 3:54 P.M.  on Thursday the 23rd of August, my home phone rang.  I don't always answer my home phone, but not even knowing who it was, I answered it.  It was Mike and he asked me if I was going to be home and said that he was in the area and wanted to come over.  I didn't know why he was coming over but later found out that he wanted to pick up some paint that my son Drew had given to him.  I was going to be home and told him to come on over.  

While he was here, we talked for about an hour.  We talked about a lot of things.  He told me that his mom had been going through a difficult time.  He seemed really concerned for her and shared with me that his grandmother had recently passed away and that his grandfather was in the hospital and had been diagnosed with cancer.  He showed me a picture of his grandpa and mentioned that people thought that he looked like him.  He also showed me a picture of he and his mother and said that he felt that he also looked like his mom. I agreed with him, they looked so much alike.  My son Drew had returned from a trip to India a couple of months ago and Mike told me that he could see that Drew's life had been changed by this experience.  He was really happy for Drew that he had this experience and he knew that it meant a lot to him.  He spoke of working at Apple and how much he loved it and said that he would like to pursue a career and be on a design team for them. He showed me artwork he had done and explained the process he had used and it was truly amazing!  I asked about his girl friend and he expressed how much he loved her and showed me a picture of them together and shared that he thought she was beautiful.  I agreed, they made such a good looking couple. I met Yvette just recently and she is a beautiful person inside and out.  He told me that he felt that people texted to much and if he wanted to talk with someone he would call them.  I told him that I thought he would be "old fashioned" like that and would be the type that would just pick up the phone and call.  Before he left I showed him pictures of my grand daughter Harper.  He also looked in the backyard and asked how our 10 year old black lab Bailey was doing and mentioned that his dog Belle was still alive at 15.  Belle is Bailey's mother.  Then we went to the garage and I gave him the paint.  Before he left I gave him a big hug and told him to come back when my husband was home.  I new Vess would love to see him.  Little did I know that 5 days later he would be gone from all of our lives.

I have several memories of Mike spending time in our home these past 13 years.  As he told my son Drew, "Drew you could sell ice to Eskimos." That was also true of Mike! Because of Mike's infectious smile people were automatically drawn to him.  I remember telling him in High School that the thing I loved about him was that he was his own person.  When I spoke to his mother Michelle the day after the accident she said, "Mike was a colorful young man."  That truly says it all.  He lived his life with passion and to it's very fullest.  He was a lot of fun but also had a mature spirit and fulfilled many of his goals while on this earth. He was very intelligent and graduated with a Bachelor's degree.  He had a love for art, music, journalism, travel, computers, skate boarding, but most of all a love for his family, friends and Yvette.  The night of his death Drew told me that Mike was his greatest supporter.  Mike not only wanted to fulfill his dreams, but encouraged others to fulfill theirs.  

I will never fully know why God allowed me to have this time with Mike just days before he left this earth.  But it will always be one of my most precious moments.  May we all learn from Mike's legacy of being our "own person" and most importantly showing the unconditional love that he showed to all of us.

Sincerely, Caroline Pearson