Dear Friends,
Another year has gone by and with it many changes in the lives of the Camerino clan. It seems we are all in the throes of growth and change … and while that is normal and healthy, it can be unsettling as well. The “nest” is empty after years of the comings and goings of college students. It’s wonderful to see three children become such fine adults; but now and then it can lead to memories of how it used to be … and musings about future grandchildren seeing Santa for the first time. We are at the midpoint of it all, enjoying the intimacy and spontaneity of being a couple again. That part is good!
Pat is still chugging along at Baylor College of Medicine .. would you believe eleven years? … and busy preaching, teaching, marrying and offering spiritual direction at Christ the Good Shepherd. Karen is semi-retired after a year as associate director of the diocesan Family Life Ministries Office. She is working on special projects two days a week and filling her “spare” time with spiritual direction, volunteering and teaching adults at the parish. We celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary by returning to England and Scotland in October. It was an exciting and wonderful experience. Come and see our photographs of castles and cathedrals!
Deb has moved from San Antonio to Denton, Texas where her intended, Joe Gunter, is working on a graduate degree. She is still looking for a position worthy of her talent and experience but seems content to live in Denton, a college town north of Dallas.
Ken is still working at Gulf Pines Psychiatric Hospital but is looking around for other options with more career potential. He is close by and becoming involved in the music ministry at Christ the Good Shepherd.
Kip (or Chris, as he is now called) graduated from Southwest Texas State University in August and is teaching physical science at Oak Ridge High School in The Woodlands, Texas. He lives in the same apartment complex as Ken, only ten minutes from home. He is hoping to teach biology next year but meanwhile is getting his feet wet as a first year teacher.
So here we are at the end of 1988, hoping that it has been a good year for you, too. Although we write seldom, you often cross our minds and enrich our memories of over thirty years as Pat and Karen. We value our friendship with you; it is our sincere hope that your lives are blessed and happy.
N.B. This electronic copy is one of the first ones printed on special Christmas paper. A very large candle with holly appears on the left side; it required that the format be modified as the outline of the candle was reached. It’s great how easily a word-processed version can accommodate this requirement. However, as a result the amount of “content” has been reduced, accounting for the brevity of this letter.