Page 3

DON'T

MISS

THE

BRENT

2004 REUNION

along with 9 servants, who perished. Neat place, very nice shopkeeper interested in digital cameras with Gary. I bought an Irish tin whistle and instruction booklet, but had been too busy with the maps and the Steves book to practice. 

We moved back south yesterday to Trim, which is a small town northwest of Dublin. Our B&B was a 170-year-old former maternity hospital, and looked like a grand manor. Lovely decor and landscaping, and right across the street from the remains of Trim Castle, the largest Norman castle in Ireland. A good bit of the filming of “Braveheart” (a Scottish movie!) was done on the grounds of Trim Castle.  We toured it and also Newgrange, a 5000 year-old-burial mound nearby. They very proudly tell that Newgrange is 500 years older than the Giza pyramids. 

We drove this afternoon to Dun Laoghaire (pronounced Dun Leery), a seaport suburb of Dublin. We have 2 days ahead packed with things to see here, so our next message to you will probably be after that. 

Gary is holding up well. His driving constantly amazes me (this is a compliment!). We are going at a pretty fast pace but there is so much to see and do that we don’t want to skip anything. Also, it stays light here until after 10 pm, so we get back to our room around then, but always have numerous chores (journal entries, laundry, etc.) before bed.  But all-in-all, we’re having a brilliant time, as they would say here.

Installment (3) – Message from Kilkenny

Hi! It’s Sunday morning and the sun is shining, tra-la.  We left the Dublin area and drove through the beautiful but barren Wicklow Mountains southeast of Dublin, visiting a beautiful mansion (Powerscourt) with unbelievably gorgeous grounds), then drove to a 500 AD monastery before arriving in Kilkenny.

We’ve been staying 2 nights in a fairly new, lovely home — the nicest yet. The landlady and her husband have been so helpful and thoughtful, and we got warm hugs at our departure this morning. Yesterday we had an easier day than most, driving a short distance south to some craft shops and Waterford, where we toured the factory and were dazzled by the showroom (and its prices!).

This morning we toured Kilkenny Castle and are headed to the Rock of Cashel (ancient Celtic center) on the way to Kinsale, a sailing port on the southern coast. 

Gary has taken over 500 shots with his digital camera, and has room for 1000 more. Lots of pictures of flowers along with the castles, scenery, etc. Many times he has photographed a person here, and then wowed them by showing them their picture on the camera screen. 

Ellen and Gary

From: ralph rodriguez [ralphrod@nsclub.net]

Subject: Hi Roy - enjoy your beer.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for the great “ECHOES of the 60s” that I just got. Gloria and I had such nostalgic looking at the pictures and reading of the articles. You are all doing a fantastic job and bringing the spirit that was always there of our times at Brent. I saw Father Houghton and his wife Candy when they drove up to Austin, Texas and visited with us. We attended the graduation of our oldest grandchild, Ruth, from the University of Texas. We had such a great time even if they stayed for two days only.

Our two other daughters (Audrey from NJ and Cindy from CT) also flew down so we had a wonderful reunion as a nuclear family. The next trip, God willing, is to be with the Brent of the 60s reunion in 2004. I certainly wouldn’t want to miss that - and I will be much older then. Think I could still travel?

Before I forget would you please send my Henry Schwisenger’s address in Naples, Florida. Gosh, he and Norman Aguinaldo used to room and board with us when were still living off campus. I’d like to surprise him. Better still if you have his email address that would be terrific. 

I am really looking forward to seeing you especially and to thank you in person for keeping me in touch with all of you who have made a difference in my life. Keep well always and in good health.

I just had a lens implantation in my left eye and am amazed at the advancement in medicine. I have such good vision and didn’t stay but a day at the hospital and that was because my ophthalmologist wanted to see me the next day. Amazing too that all the doctors who participated in the operation were my former students when I taught in medical school.

Enjoy the picture below and I will enjoy that beer or wine or whatever you have when I see you next. God bless you Roy and your family. Continue with the good you are doing and keep in touch.

With the very best of wishes, Ralph

MessageFrom: Susan Fertig-Dykes [sfd@gmdtech.com]

Subject: RE: Brent Reunions

I left World Vision about four weeks ago to accept a job with USAID (a political appointment in the Bush Administration). I am now Senior Desk Officer for Bosnia in the Europe and Eurasia Bureau. After two weeks on the job, I went to Bosnia for two weeks, so I just got back. It was so encouraging to see how much the situation has improved there. I spent some of the time in Sarajevo, but also went on trips to see work being