Dear Friends,
It’s hard to believe that our first attempt at an annual letter was in 1963, when we moved from Hanover, New Hampshire to Corvallis, Oregon! However, they did not really become “annual” until 1980, after we had settled in Houston, Texas. For the two of us, it’s been great fun – and very nostalgic – to re-read about what we’ve been up to for almost a half-century! We hope that these years have been as kind to you as they have been to us (disregarding national and international events about wars and the economy!) And so, we continue the series for these past twelve months of our history with the hope, once more, that in all of the future days and months ahead of us there will be peace in our lives and in the world.
Many personal events have not changed. We grow older and perhaps wiser. Karen continues to be part of musical, poetical and spiritual activities here at Eagle’s Trace (ET). She enjoys giving days of prayer and preparing interdenominational services at ET as well as staffing weekends and being a spiritual director at the Cenacle Retreat House. Pat has been “cutting-back” his interactions at Christ the Good Shepherd, our home parish for the past three decades. He has witnessed his last weddings there but still gives homilies at all of the masses at least once a month. To “compensate” he’s preaching more at ET’s interdenominational services and teaching at local parishes, i.e. those less than the hour-long drive to CGS.
Our health continues to be “very good,” by insurance standards. This year Pat celebrated his big 75th with a major party for family and friends. Karen’s knees had no problem negotiating Eastern Europe last spring during several days in Prague, Czech Republic and our cruise of the Danube from Budapest to the Black Sea. (One interesting outcome of the trip is that we have been asked to share our previously videoed trips on the ET in-house television outlet.)
Ken continues as senior technical writer for United Recovery Systems; Tracey as mother of eight and all that goes with that position 24/7. Chris is now an assistant principal at the freshman campus of The Woodlands High School; Kelly is a mathematics teacher at Klein Oaks.
The major new events are: (1) Jordan entering the seminary and taking freshman courses at the University of Dallas and (2) Kirby entering the University of Texas at Austin and taking courses which could lead to an engineering or business degree. Kennedy and Dillon are thinking about next year and their futures. Christina, Thomas, Victoria, Olivia, and Damien are involved in home schooling and church-related events. Joseph Xavier does know how good he has it!
We visit with Deb, still managing a San Antonio library, and Frank Brantley in San Antonio, Houston or Schulenberg, TX (half-way between) as often as mutual schedules will allow.
Last year Karen summarized 2009 in a poem. (It was her turn to write the letter.) This year we’re including another Christmas poem, albeit non-historical. Who knows … perhaps this, too, will become an annual event! Meanwhile I’ll quote last year’s conclusion:
“The Camerinos send our best/ With love and joy and all the rest.”
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 2010