The days seem to go by faster as we go by more slowly! It’s called “Retirement” which suggests there should be plenty of opportunity to do whatever we want, whenever we want and for as long (or short) as we want. Yet, there are never enough hours in a normal week to “accomplish” all that we want/think we “should” do. We guess the answer is to recognize it’s not required that we must get done all we want to do. No one has invented a time-stretcher and it’s unlikely one will become available any time soon. So we’re learning to be content. You’d think by now we would have mastered the attitude. We hope we still have enough time left to do it! Maybe you have the same problem and have advice to offer.
Most of the time, prayer and meditation help. We have been able to set aside time for that. And try to assist others in their own attempts … what with the retreats and days of prayer Karen continues to lead at the Cenacle and here at Eagle’s Trace (ET) for the residents. Both of us have directees who seem, at times, to have it more together than we have! There are also the more formal spiritual/ religious activities Pat maintains: monthly homilies at Christ the Good Shepherd and occasional interdenominational services at ET. Karen continues to preside at similar services here. She has also become deeply involved as a docent with the Brookwood Community, a nearby community for adults with functional disabilities. In addition to working and learning facilities for residents and non-residents, Brookwood has a shop for gifts and plants as well as a great restaurant. It was there that our family and closest friends celebrated Karen’s 75th birthday in June. (It was a surprise luncheon … and it worked!)
Our family has extended itself in 2011. Gabriel John prematurely joined his eight siblings in June! The oldest boys, Jordan and Dillon, are attending college classes; the middle ones (Christina, Thomas, Victoria, Olivia and Damien) are still being home-schooled by a very involved Tracey – while Joseph is adapting to not being the youngest in the family. (Ken remains busy with United Recovery Systems.) Deb (Cammie to some) and Frank Brantley are married and continue to reside in San Antonio where she is a library director and he teaches college math. Our other math teacher, Kelly, works with younger students at Klein Oak while Chris remains as an Assistant Principal in The Woodlands. Kirby is a sophomore at UT; Kennedy is an extremely active senior at Klein Oak high school. Everyone is busy and happy.
This year’s annual European vacation for Pat and Karen focused on a cruise of the Elbe River in Germany (including Berlin, Hamburg and small towns along the way). Perhaps the best part was a prelude visit to Poland (Warsaw and Krakow) where Pat’s grand-parents were born; and again to Prague, a favorite of ours.
Once more Karen has a Christmas poem to share. It was originally composed in 1958, yes some 53 years ago! We still miss the snow, but not the shoveling. May you enjoy the actuality and nostalgia of this “Christmas Reverie.”
Christmas Reverie
A year is drawing to a close.
The leaves, crisp and sere, are chased over the frosted walks by bitter winds.
The lamps give off a penetrating light, interrupted occasionally by sheets of ice
Covering the glittering glass globes.
December – month of snow, wind, joy, completion, commencement, Christmas.
A time of worrying over petty things – sizes, colors, kinds, space, food, wine,
Time, guest list, entertainment.
A time of devotion and contemplation about unanswerable questions: Virgin birth,
Miles traveled over endless sands, angels, a newborn child, God’s great love.
A time of joy and childish excitement – red bicycles, Santa Claus, noises in the night,
Reindeer, candy, toys.
A time of pondering and thoughts of eternity and love.
Lovers part with tears, strangers meet – and always, always, Christmas.
I think of all these things with happiness and wonder.
Christmas is not a completion but a commencement – a new year, a new day, a new plane
Of love, a new life.
The wind whips around corners, down alleys, through deserted fields, and rattles now on
My window pane.
Christmas is coming. The night is cool, the moon is full, and my heart is full of love for
Christ and you.
Bells ring, snow falls, people run, carols sing out, carried by the wind.
God smiles. Again the world remembers His son.
Amid the pettiness there is good spirit; in childish glee there is love; in the hearts of
Christians there is reverence.
A part of me wishes it could remain always, always Christmas.
Karen Camerino: 1958, Revised in a land without snow 2011