Whittier, CA

.Good Morning!  (at least that is what it is here.)  It has been raining for a few days, which should help make everything grow.  We are off from school today and tomorrow, to get ready for finals next week.  I have 2 finals, Sociology and Statistics on Tuesday, Physics on Wednesday, Social Psychology on Thursday and Genetics on Friday.  I really am not comprehending Physics and I'll be lucky if I get a C.

We had a nice Christmas.  I'm sure mom wrote and told you all about where we went and what we did.  It was good to be home again for Christmas, but I sure did miss my group in New York and others aroung the world.  You will be getting the pictures.  They look like all the Christmas pictures we take - everybody taking turns by the tree!  Oh, if he's on the picture, take a look at our old Santa.  He has a new beard and stuff.

Thanks for the tape.  It sure was nice to hear your voice again.  No, we haven't forgot to send it back.  We'll surprise you with it, some time soon.  Mom is sending out a package, but the tape won't be ready that soon.

Dom and Martha and Little Ronnie were here for a few days.  Ronnie wil be staying with Dom and Martha for a while and will be going to school up there.

Last Saturday, I went to a "Sister's Day" at the movies.  We saw "Hello Dolly" at Grauman's Chinese Theatre.  The movie started at 9:30, but I got there early - about 8:30.  I had left the house about 8:00 AM  and there was very little traffic on Sat. AM.  When I got there, the cheapest parking was $1.25, so I drove down a side street a few blocks and parked there!  I meet (sic) a Sr. Anne who works at UCLA, so I had a chance to visit with her.  The movie was pretty good.  It was entertaining and enjoyable.  Afterwards I dashed out because I had to be at Dolores Mission by 1 pm because that was when the kids would be there.  I made it - and Sally and Eva were already there!  That was a surprise since they are usually a little late!  I didn't have anything really planned, but it all worked out fine. We read a book about oceans.  Do you know why the ocean is salty?  I do, now.  After reading about such exciting things, the kids had some indoor relay races, using words and numbers.  Outside we conducted smoe more relay races, but these involved running.  They don' do much running, so they kind of enjoyed the exercise.  One little black boy, Eli, who has been helping Agnes, came over.  He is the first one to come who doesn't go to the parish school there.  I walked home with him and met his mom - who was a little angry with him because he hadn't told her where he was going!  I hope he comes again this week and that he brings some friends.  I would really like to reach the kids in the projects if we can.

Mom just told me that she had written a letter to you, so I read it and will not repeat all of her 8 pages.  Wow, some people write letters and some write books!

About my experiences with Maryknoll and the bosses in N.Y. - I had talked with an advisor at school and he strongly recommended that I change my major to Biology if I hoped to go on to medical school.  Also, a Maryknoll who just started med. school this year, recommended the same thing.  So, I wrote to the sister in charge of continuing education and asked if it would be possible to change to a Biology major.  She said that I should consider my priorities.  If I wished first and foremost to be a doctor, I would have to do so outside of Maryknoll.  They cannot assure me that Maryknoll will be able to send me to med. school.  There are a lot of things to be considered.  Many of our doctors have left Maryknoll in the the last few years.  Also, med. school involves a large investment of both time and money.  

Anyway, I decided to follow my original plan and go back for my community service degree next Fall.  I will still be taking the science courses here.  We will see what happens.  I have not done well in Physics, and I probably get only a B in Genetics.  With these grades, I may not make it into med. school anyway.

At this point in my life, I really don't know if I really want to be a doctor all that much.  The thought of being out on the missions in one year seems awfully attractive.

I just received your last letter in the morning mail.  How's that for timing!  I hope you make Spec 5.  By the way, what does that mean?  More money?

Well, I guess I'd better get back to Physics.  We are studying Centripetal Forces now