Merry Christmas and Holy New Year

The big news for us this year is one college graduation. Aria graduated (Univ. SC) in August and it was off to Pittsburgh, PA where he is working for a respite care company (special needs children) and living near his girlfriend, Ashley Lynch who is working and pursuing a Masters in early childhood development.

Nadia, also USC, will graduate in May (Fashion, Advertising) and just finished a year as president of AXO. She is interviewing with Teach For America for a position teaching underprivileged children.

Natasha is doing well as a sophomore (Business at USC -- it really helps to have them all in the same nest). She will repeat as Social Chair of AXO for another year.

Kim and I spent a long Labor Day weekend in Marion, IN visiting her Aunt Tiny and numerous cousins. It was a great time visiting Aunt Tiny and places and friends Kim had not seen since her early teens.

We spent two weeks in Egypt late this fall. It was a wonderful adventure in Cairo and cruising the Nile from Luxor to Aswan and returning to Cairo by sleeper car on the train. Our gracious hosts for the trip were Kim's cousin, Nesrine, and her husband, Rear Admiral (Egypt Navy, Ret.). Mahmoud Metwally. The best part of the trip was meeting Kim's mother's relatives she had never met. Nesrine's and Mahmoud's children (Ismail, Engy, Nani,) are near in age to ours and we timed the trip so we could meet the newest member of the family, Tia, six month old daughter of Mohammed and Engy . We also enjoyed visiting some of the places Kim's Dad and Mom went to when they were "courting" during WW2.

Our visit to the Giza Pyramids was highlighted by a two hour tour by one of the five Egyptologists who accompanied President Obama on his limited 20 minute tour. This was made possible by Mahmoud who, the day before we went, arranged a 15 minute private audience with Dr. Zahi Hawass, Secretary General Chair of the Supreme Council of Antiquities for Egypt.

On the medical front I had emergency gall bladder removal in May. This was followed by a new round of neuro-sarcoid exacerbation started in July causing a new course of monthly chemo -- just finished my 4th of 6 treatments. This has not slowed me up appreciably. Ruby (10 year old Australian Shepherd) developed hip-displasia this year and we cannot go for runs now and are restricted to walks which is probably better for both of us.

I finish my tenure as Chair of the Savannah River Site Citizens Advisor Board in January. This will include appearing before the Blue Ribbon Committee on Nuclear Waste on January 7, 2011. It has been an educational and exciting six years.

Kim's business, Massage Therapy, Inc, is doing well. She and I went on Weight Watchers in May and succeeded in achieving our target body mass index. She continues to be a remarkable business woman, mother and wife.

The girls are home for Christmas. Aria will be in Hershey. PA. but we hope to visit him in the spring.

We wish you all a blessed Christmas and holy New Year.

Manuel Bettencourt, Kim Brewer,
Aria, Nadia, and Natasha Navab,
and Ruby