TONY'S JOURNAL
Part Three
Circa March 2001: in my garden plot at the Western Trails Retirement Community in South Austin with Camille Miller Yale, my Junior League volunteer helper. We would dig and plant and water and then step a few feet to eat lunch at the cafe in the Country Market. Camille is the mother of three lovely children, and her husband is the image of Clark Kent, a real super man!
Circa 1994: in Zapata, Texas. Teaching social studies at Zapata High School, I often went across the hall to share lunch with special education teachers. Zapata was a "different experience."
Circa 1957: in New York City, New York. Before entering the Order of the Holy Cross, I lived in New York City and worked for a time at the National Council of the Episcopal Church as an assistant to one of the clergy on the staff.
Circa 1975: in Alvin, Texas. After received a master's degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1971, I joined the faculty at Alvin Community College, teaching journalism and English.
Circa 1977: in San Marcos, Texas. Moving to the Texas Hill Country, I joined the journalism faculty at Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University at San Marcos).
Circa 1984: in Austin, Texas. While operating the Angels House soup kitchen and street ministry, occasionally I cleaned up and was guest of friends and supporters for dinner at a regular restaurant.
Circa 1986: in San Antonio, Texas. "Burning out" is not uncommon when one works among the poor. I took a year off and lived as an anchorite in seclusion to recharge my "spiritual battery." I left the street ministry and became a high school teacher.
Circa 1978: in New Orleans, Louisiana. I attended a summer seminar for Catholic evangelism at Loyola University. I was working as a communications consultant to the bishop of the Diocese of Austin.
Circa 2002: in Laredo, Texas. While serving as a member of the administrative staff of Holding Institute, I also tutored students privately in English as a second language at my home in the Hamilton Hotel.
Circa 2002: in Laredo, Texas. At my desk at Holding Institute. While serving on the administrative staff as the assistant to the executive director, I also acted as the in-house substitute teacher, covering just about every subject including computer competency.
Circa 2002: in Laredo, Texas. My good friend, Clara ("Aurora") Benavides, would often visit me on her way to spend time with relatives back in Zapata. Clara is visually impaired though certainly not handicapped in any other way.
Circa 1995: in Zapata, Texas. With my friend and fellow high school teacher, Steven Bowe, within yards of the Falcon Reservoir on the Rio Grande and the southern boundary of the United States.
Circa 1992: in Santa Barbara, California. I took off several weeks and toured the nation on board Amtrak trains. It looks nice on the travel brochures, but it certainly is not the most comfortable way to see America.
Circa 2002: in Laredo, Texas. Back at Holding Institute, working on grant applications to fund alternative education. I was not particularly good at writing grants.
Circa 1986: in Sarita, Texas. While operating the Angels House soup kitchen and street ministry, I took several days off to visit the Lebh Shomea retreat center in Sarita, Texas, in south Texas. I had a memorable experience while staying there. I tell about it elsewhere.
Circa 1985: in Austin, Texas. Going on a "bread run" in my Datsun. These were "long hair" days! Keeping trim often evaded me while I operated the soup kitchen, Angels House.
Circa 1974: in Alvin, Texas. A very lovely person, Rosemary! What can I say? The mother of my three children and I "drifted apart" after 18 years of marriage. Without a doubt, I accept the responsibility for this broken relationship.
Circa 1993: in Cotulla, Texas. The yearbook photograph for the Cotulla High School. The tie was a gift from a former student of mine from Southwest Texas State University. I never could work crossword puzzles.
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