Author: patcamerino

Dear Friends,

For the past forty-plus years we have looked forward to writing a Christmas letter. This year, however, there is a high level of apathy. It has been so long since we’ve been able to begin this summary with hopeful comments. The last somewhat positive beginning was in 1999 when we wondered about the Y2K bug! It’s with nostalgia we look back to a peaceful time in our history.

Yet we really have nothing to complain about on a personal level. (Perhaps, this too, has been part of the “problem.”) Much has been a continuation of previous years; and they have been good to both of us … as well as to our off-spring.

Deb has a new “house in the country” in Elmendorf, Texas, a southern “ex-urb” of San Antonio, where she remains with the SA library. She is surrounded by woods, cattle and other critters. Joe continues at his library near Loveland, Colorado. Their frequent back-and-forth visits provide vacation spots for both of them.

Ken and Tracey have also purchased a new home, albeit not in the country but by a suburban lake, and with an uncountable number of rooms. (As of Columbus Day, there is a seventh addition to the family: Damien Paul.) Two of the rooms are dedicated to home schooling: one for the older kids (Jordan, Dillon and Christina) and the other for Thomas and Victoria. Olivia learns everywhere else; no doubt so will Damien. Jordan, Dillon and Thomas are taking guitar lessons, while Christina is playing the piano. (Von Trapp family someday?!) Ken works on his at-home computer for his Rye, NY company.

Chris has completed work for his M.Ed. degree and is now an Assistant Principal at Oak Ridge High School, where he formerly taught biology and coached football. He claims he enjoys the administrative life and the lack of grading homework. Kelly still grades her mathematics papers in addition to supervising extracurricular events such as cheer-leading. Kirby will no doubt follow along, given her current cheer-leader and basketball activities. Kennedy continues to perform in plays and in general “cuteness.”

The oldest (or older) members of the clan had a most enjoyable two-week river cruise in Holland and Belgium in April, during tulip time in the low countries. There is little more overwhelming than fields of tulips, unless it’s chocolate! We encourage others of you to consider river-boat trips in Europe. (This is our third.) They have the advantages of other cruises (not needing to unpack every night) with the addition of fascinating, daily stops in towns and cities.

Pat has spent an inordinate amount of time reliving past trips by transferring, editing and adding musical backgrounds to camcorder results (now on computer-burned CDs.) Karen’s pastimes involve needlework; it helps keep the arthritis at bay. Both continue with religious/spiritual ministries at Christ the Good Shepherd and the Cenacle.

Perhaps it is because of these on-going interactions with young couples planning marriage and future lives together and with older folks wanting a deeper prayer-life that we have been able to counter this secular-apathy which pervades life in the late months of 2004. After-all, now is the time to celebrate the Birth of the One whose life began with angels singing: “Peace on Earth to those of Good Will.” We continue to hope such people do exist. We know that He does!

Dear Friends,

Needless to say, this has been an eventful year! For Asia with tsunami and earthquake. For the northeast with unnamed floods and the southeast with damage from Katrina, Rita and Wilma. With bombings and deaths continuing into the thousands in the Middle East, it is a difficult to think of peace on earth. And yet, we still express that hope and desire. Perhaps next year will be different.

In one major way the coming months will bring us a significant change. This is, in fact, the reason why you are receiving this annual message somewhat earlier, we hope, than in previous years. We have sold our house, as of last June, and are in the process of settling into a “retirement” community: Eagle’s Trace, an Erickson community, the first in Texas. Our new mailing address is: 102 Pecan Grove, Apt. 410; Houston, TX 77077.

Pat finally got tired of yard work: planting, weeding and feeding flowers. Karen had enough of feeding both of us; the complex includes one meal a day as part of the monthly fees (usually dinner.) Our own apartment has a bedroom, two studies, living room, kitchen and two bathrooms. The adjoining building houses two dining rooms, pool, fitness room, class rooms, work shops, convenience store, postoffice, bank, lounges and 24-hour medical facility. For those of you who are computer minded you can check it out at http://www.ericksoncommunities.com/eth/ So far it’s almost like living in a resort, or being on a continuing vacation.

Our last, actual vacation in April afforded us two weeks in Italy, one based in Sorrento, the other in Montecatini near Florence. Yes, we enjoyed it. (It was also interesting being in Italy when Benedict XVI was elected Pope!) Our other journey this year was to Dallas for a wedding, scheduled for the weekend Rita visited East Texas. We joined with several million other close friends for a 14-hour drive from Houston to Dallas! Fortunately we had no additional hurricane problems directly. The interim apartment where we lived between June and November had its share of evacuees from Louisiana.

The rest of our lives have continued in the same paths begun in previous years. Ken, Tracey and their seven kids (our marvelous grandchildren!) continue with home-schooling. Chris, Kelly and their two daughters (our other marvelous grandchildren!) continue with events in the Klein and Conroe ISDs. Deb and Joe continue with their bookish ways as librarians. Karen and Pat continue with their religious callings at The Cenacle and at Christ the Good Shepherd. Some might say we are all “in a rut.” But this is the way peaceful lives also continue. We have our health and we have sufficient resources to live with personal happiness much of the time (the brief periods for griping are, indeed, brief.)

We recognize our individual blessings, especially at this time of the year. We merely wish that the rest of the world could experience them as well. We sincerely hope that you, too, are feeling blessed by the One whose birth we still celebrate this season.

To all of our friends and family:
May the peace and joy of this holy season be with each of you!

We have had a very busy year. We are well settled here at Eagle’s Trace. With every passing day we are more and more convinced our decision to move into this community was an excellent idea. We are involved in a variety of activities here. Pat is a part of a computer club and a Bible study group. Karen is involved in a poetry group and the choir. Both of us are active with the book club, the interfaith ministry board, and the Ambassadors (a group of residents who open their apartments to folks who are considering a move to Eagle’s Trace.) When you combine these activities with our usual commitments to the Cenacle Retreat House and the parish (a thirty mile drive, one way), we hardly qualify as retired! (And there are also Karen’s water exercises!)

Deb has a new position as branch manager of one the libraries in San Antonio. It is an exciting new opportunity for her. She is still enjoying her country life in Elmendorf, amid the gophers, snakes and other critters. Happily, her domestic pets are more congenial!

Ken, Tracey and our seven gorgeous, talented grandchildren are doing well. Tracey is still home schooling and they have proven to be good students as well as good people. The boys (except for Damien, the youngest) are all playing guitar and are quite accomplished. Christina plays the piano. Will the other ladies follow?

Chris and Kelly are doing their usual excellent work in the public school arena. The girls (also gorgeous and talented!) are involved in sports and cheerleading. The football team at Kelley’s school is still in the running for the state title and that keeps Kelley and Kirby (freshman cheerleader) busy every weekend.

As for other news, we traveled this fall to Slovenia and Croatia. It was a fascinating (and exhausting) trip. The coastline of these countries is beautiful and unlike anything on the Italian side of the Adriatic. Dubrovnik, Croatia is amazing – a triumph of Roman and Medieval architecture and determination on the part of the Croatians who endured war in the 1990’s. We encourage any and all to travel there if you get an opportunity.

We’re sure we could think of more to say, but we’ll close for now. May 2007 be a wonderful year for you. Your are in our thoughts and prayers.

To all our friends and family: May the Peace and Joy of Christmas be with you!

This year has been a bit different from our usual active running around. Karen has had two surgeries on her left knee, ending in a total replacement. In January the right one will be replaced. She is very thankful that she isn’t a four-footed creature! We have a rehab facility here at Eagle’s Trace and she will be using it again soon. Pat has been her gopher and chauffeur and is, she claims, much appreciated.

We have been busy in spite of it all. Pat has taught three different courses for the archdiocese and a nearby parish, as well as continuing with preaching and marriage preparation at our old church some 30 miles from Eagle’s Trace. He also facilitates a Bible study group at ET. Karen is on partial leave from the Cenacle Retreat House, but is still seeing a few people for spiritual direction and leading some retreats. She sings in the ET choir and takes part in the poetry group.

We have also taken two trips this year – a wonderful river cruise in Europe on the Rhine and Mosel: from Antwerp, Belgium to Basel, Switzerland – and a trip to Ohio and Massachusetts in October to visit friends and relatives, attend Pat’s 50th class reunion at Kent State, and celebrate the ordination of our good friend, Vic Norton, to the permanent diaconate. Pretty good for an ol’ lady with bad knees and a ol’ guy with a bad back!

The “kids” are doing well. Chris is still an Assistant Principle at Oakridge H.S., Kelly is still teaching math at Klein Oak H.S. Ken has a new position with United Recovery Systems (and a personal contract archiving materials for an architectural firm.) He is also a member of the archdiocesan choir which will perform at the dedication of the new cathedral in Houston. Tracey is still mom, teacher, and miracle worker. Deb is doing well in her branch manager position at McCreeless library in San Antonio. All are happy, healthy (for those at mid-life) and close-by for visiting. Nice for us.

Our nine grandkids are brilliant, talented and good-looking! Ranging from 16 to 3 years of age, they are a delight to spend time with. We are so blessed to live close enough to see them often. Among them are guitarists, pianists, cheerleaders, volleyball players, writers, craft and sewing people, and youth ministers who are also sports fans, doll lovers, and car-guys. Grandchildren are great fun!

We try to keep these annual letters to one page, so it’s time to end this year’s note. You are in our thoughts and prayers. May you have a wonderful Christmas and may 2008 be very good to you.

Dear Friends,

Do any of us really want to go through another year like 2008? There have been a lot of downs nationally/internationally as well as a few in our own lives. But we have survived and, indeed, in certain instances have thrived as well. We hope this is also true for you.

In late January Karen had her second knee replaced. Although the results of the 2007 version had no complications, the newer one did not follow the same route. She had some painful manipulations done as a follow up. She was able to do extended rehabilitation exercises here at Eagle’s Trace where we live and the results were excellent. We continue to be grateful that we chose to move to this retirement community when we did. It really does have all the medical, recreational and daily dining facilities that we throughly enjoy. Karen is involved in the residential choir, poetry and spirituality events of the community. Pat facilitates a bible study group and is active in the book club. Many enjoyed our Thanksgiving Service which Karen organized and where Pat gave a “homily.”

The usual non-Eagle’s Trace activities continue to keep both of us busy. Karen still leads prayer events at the Cenacle Retreat center, although on a reduced schedule. Pat, a “retired” Permanent Deacon, continues to preach at weekend Masses at our old parish of Christ the Good Shepherd but witnesses fewer weddings. He also teaches classes at the local parish, St. John Vianney.

The high-light of the year was the celebration of our Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary. We renewed our vows at a Liturgy held at the Cenacle and enjoyed the company of many local and Californian friends who were present for the Liturgy and for a party. Tracey was not able to attend, since she was busy with Joseph Xavier Camerino, born six days earlier. He joins his four brothers and three sisters and two cousins to round out our now ten grandchildren. To allow you to be part of our 50th, we are including with our annual Christmas letter, copies of photos taken during the past year. For many of you this may be the first time you’ve seen the younger generations in a long while.

Karen’s new knees and Pat’s health allowed us to take our annual foreign vacation in September (when the markets fell everywhere.) Having pre-paid the trip we were able to enjoy the sunshine of the Italian regions around Lake Como and Tuscany for nineteen days.

As for other “events” … We survived “Ike” at Eagle’s Trace without electricity for only 36 hours. Chris’ and Ken’s families were without power and water for almost two weeks. We no longer can say: ”We like Ike.” We trust that you are as happy as we are that the election campaign is finally over. Although we look forward to the next four years, we know there are many of our friends who do so with some trepidation. Nevertheless, let’s pray that 2009 brings all of us a sense of tranquility and a true appreciation of the Peace on Earth promised to those of Good Will some two thousand years ago!

In 2009 it was Karen’s “turn” to write our Christmas letter. She chose to compose it in the form of a poem. A copy appears below. In following years, Pat would write the letter and Karen would write a poem for the Season!