Dear Friends:
We could send a copy of last year’s letter without too many changes, since the current one would have the same information about our life at Eagle’s Trace Senior Living Community in Houston Texas, our seventeenth Holiday here. There is, however, a very valid reason for an updated version. On December 9, Karen had her right hip replaced at Memorial City Hospital and, on the following Tuesday, was transferred to Bayou Vista, the skilled nursing-rehabilitation facility at Eagle’s Trace, to continue her follow-up process. We are not sure when she will be able to return to our apartment in Pecan Grove, one of the current six private apartment buildings at ET. We are hoping that the event will occur before Christmas Day!
When she had both knees and a right shoulder replaced (at different times!) years ago, her body was not that of an octogenarian. So, if you plan to have surgery, do it when you’re younger! As a result of Karen’s continuing therapy, Pat has learned how to use the dishwasher, washing machine and dryer! However, it appears that gift-shopping, which has also been Karen’s personal bailiwick, will not be done this year, so kids, grandchildren and great grandchildren will need to depend on a more active Santa Claus – just how old is he, anyway, and how does he keep driving that sleigh?!
A year ago, the temperature along the Gulf Coast was in the high eighties. It happened again, this year. This week it will be in the fifties and, according to some, will be the forties on Christmas Day. Given that Chris and Kelly, being retired from high school education, have moved to Gadsden, Alabama, while Kennedy resides in Atlanta and Kirby & Stephen now live in San Francisco, different climates will be experienced by several members of the clan.
More important, our clan has expanded. Kipton Royce was born in San Francisco on July 19. His older cousin, Liam James, arrived on March 28, the same birthday for his father, Cristian Araujo! Weddings this year include Thomas with Michelle Areli on April 1 in Cancun, and Victoria with Ismail Sanchez on March 19 in Houston. (Ken, who now works for HPE, and Tracey currently have 21 direct descendants!) Dillon and Carolyn (with Brantley and Shiloh) are in the planning stage for a move to Tennessee early next year. It appears that the Camerino family will soon be known nationwide!
On the other hand, the traveling days for Pat and Karen have been greatly limited. The extent of our trips includes meeting Deb and Frank halfway between Houston and San Antonio. (Deb has retired from her management position with the SA library system but continues to volunteer with her local one and to be employed part-time with Palo Alto Community College.
Fortunately, we have fond memories of places throughout the U.S. where we have lived, and Europe where we have vacationed. Photos and videos are great assists to our memories, but we would prefer to see California, Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee in person rather than as virtual reality.
Karen continues to enjoy her participation with the ET chorus; Pat with writing for his blog: CameosAndCarousels.com. It’s good to slow down and relax with TV, so long as we avoid the news, an unlikely event unfortunately. We continue to be disturbed by events in Ukraine and other parts of the world. We continue to pray for peace but may need to be content with personal tranquility in lieu of a global one. We have received all four COVID injections and the one for flu, so there is hope that all we will need to contend with is Karen’s hip rehabilitation. Gone are the days when we were all “hippies” – in spirit if not in reality.
Holy Night
The angel choir disturbed the silence of the chilly night.
The sky was filled with glorious song as they hovered in their flight.
The shepherds stood in fear and awe, not knowing what to do.
The angels sang of peace on earth and a baby born anew.
“Get up, my friends, and travel now to Bethlehem this night.
Your God has chosen you to see this holy wondrous sight.
The baby will be found among the oxen in a stall,
But be not fooled. He is the savior born to free us all.”
The angel choir dispersed and left the shepherds far below.
They looked at one another – stunned – but did not fear to go.
In stable stall they found the child and knelt in glad surprise.
The mother welcomed them with gentle lovelight in her eyes.
When they told them of the angel choir and the song the angels sang,
They left to tend their flocks again, but in their hearts there rang
The sound of Mary’s voice and the baby’s newborn cry –
As beautiful to them as was the angel song on high.
You never know when angels might intrude upon the night,
So listen and keep watch in preparation for the sight.
If simple shepherds were invited to that holy place,
Might not we too, be summoned to see the Master’s face?
Karen Camerino
Christmas 2010Reissued Christmas 2022