Dear Friends,
We’re not sure why we continue to write an annual Christmas letter. Probably it’s because old habits are difficult to break. We began our series in 1980, three years after we moved to Houston, Texas. That was long before the days of Face Book and electronic communication changes of the last decade. However, our thumbs are not as fast as those of our grandchildren, and so our lives are not as ever-present to others as theirs are. As a result, these holiday letters serve us as a reminder of what has occurred within our (very) extended family. We send these recollections to friends who do not live in Texas and must endure weather that includes a lot of that white stuff, which we miss to a certain extent. However, it is pleasant to experience temperatures in the seventies as we prepare for the holidays.
Once again, we will celebrate the Twelve Days of Christmas, since the younger generations now gather in their own immediate families on December 25th. Our holiday calendar begins with Christmas Eve mass at our former parish of Christ the Good Shepherd, followed by dinner at the home of Chris and Kelly, along with Kirby, Stephen, Kennedy, Grandma Faye and a few of their friends – providing Kirby and Stephen are not visiting some foreign country and Kennedy can leave her work as a nurse at Texas Children’s Hospital. Yes, granddaughter Kirby appears to have our wanderlust genes and has seen places we once enjoyed, personally. Rumor has it that this gene may merely have been temporarily unexpressed in Chris who has plans to go with Kelly to Europe in 2020. He has done some traveling, mainly on his own, because of his work as an Insurance adjuster deployed to weather disasters areas in the Southeast.
We will celebrate Christmas Day at Eagle’s Trace with our friends and fellow residents. For the past year Pat has continued to be involved with religious adult education and Karen with prayer services in the community. In matters of health (or as a friend has said: instances of “organ recitals”) we have survived another octogenarian year. Pat is pleased with the results of his cataract surgery; Karen still grimaces with shoulder pain but her metallic knees continue to move her about quite rapidly.
Call it “Boxing Day” or the Feast of Stephen, we will be celebrating it with everyone who can make it to Oriental Garden for a traditional Chinese dinner, followed by a gathering at the home of Ken and Tracey. Once again, they have become grandparents during 2019. Christina and Cristian Araujo’s Elijah was joined by Lila Rose on March 23rd, twenty years after her aunt Victoria joined the family. Victoria and Olivia remain at home, completing school and working at jobs; Damien and Joseph merely work at school; Gabriel joins them and continues to do well, despite his genetic challenges. Jordan and Samantha, along with daughters Claire and Charlotte, reside in College Station, where he is a plumber. Dillon and Carolyn have moved to another home with their son Brantley, since Dillon is an assistant manager at a nearby restaurant. And not to be forgotten, Thomas has his own apartment and is with Peli Peli, another great restaurant in Houston.
In January we will be gathering with Deb and Frank Brantley (and available relatives) at Brookwood Restaurant near Houston. We usually meet our daughter and son-in-law somewhere between Houston and San Antonio, but they decided it would be nice if they drove the extra miles for this annual gathering. It will be a magnificent way to complete our extended Christmas-New Year’s-Epiphany Twelve Day celebrations.
Although the formal holiday celebrations end in January 2020, we hope and pray that the days which follow will also contain their own share of happiness. We once looked forward to the new millennium that started in 2000. It’s hard to believe twenty years have passed and we are beginning the third decade of the third millennium since the birth of Christ. May we someday find the true Peace which began ‘way back then!
Advent
Advent marks the end of the calendar year and, for many, the beginning of the church year.
The word comes from the Latin and means “to come to” or “coming.”
Advent is a season of waiting and anticipation.
For what do we wait? For whom do we wait?
Children wait for Santa, candy and sweets, presents under the tree.
Some of us wait for time off to relax from the day-to-day grind.
Some of us wait for sales, shopping, and gift-giving.
Some of us wait for family celebrations, reunions and a chance to gather for a feast.
Some of us wait for crisp weather, decorated homes, and Christmas trees.
Some of us wait for carol singing, church services, and shared communion.
Some of us wait for the birth of a child in Bethlehem, born again to us each Christmas after 2000 years
Some of us wait for the second coming of Christ and the end of time as we know it.
Some of us wait for peace on earth and good will toward all in the midst of a world caught up in misunderstanding and division
Some of us wait for a Merry Christmas – others for a holy Christmas.
For what do you wait? For whom do you wait?
Whatever this season of waiting means to you, may you be blessed and may all of your wishes come true.
Karen Camerino, 2019