DPA Autumn Issue 2012

DEO PATRIAE AMICIS Better to illuminate than merely to shine, to deliver to others contemplated truths than merely to contemplate –

AUTUMN

St. Thomas Aquinas

ISSUE

2012

A Newsletter for Seton High Schoolers

Autumn Hymn

By Luke Williams

My lips could drink the autumn air— it seems so fresh and clear, as if from mists that rise above some far-off mountain mere.

The leaves are falling from the trees, and lie in jeweled heaps— into the strains of autumn's breeze the voice of winter creeps.

The lanes are hard and dusty now; they stretch beneath the sun, pale-yellow, baked by summer's heat, which (at last!) is now done.

The harvest-fields are widely spread with ragged shocks of corn; the empty husks lie dry and dead, with shells and tassels torn.

The sun is yellow in the sky, yet stunning when it goes; pink, orange, purple, red shades fly in skyward river-flows.

The crickets chirp into the night— they sing a voiceless tune; their melodies are soothing, light, —not like the bugs in June!

The dew begins upon the grass, and shrinks into the day; its droplets shine like crystal glass, and slowly melt away.

The trees are clad with leafy garb— of orange, gold, and red; it strikes a chord in my heart to see their colors overhead.

Upon the hardening autumn ground the leaves lie, bright-arrayed; soon none of them will be around— winter will make them fade.

1 DPA Autumn ‘12

●

●

●

Germany

By Stephanie D.

 Germany is definitely my favorite place in the world. I have been to Germany five times before, the last time being May of this year.

There is just something about the people there, and how kind and generous they are. Germany is actually about the size of Montana. It sounds small, but you would never run out of things to do.

My grandma, or Omi (ohme) grew up in Germany, specifically in Bad Kissingen, in Bavaria, with her three siblings, and her mother. Her father died in World War 2, when she was barely a year old. Her mother died in 2010, during one of our trips there. She married my Opa (oh-pa) in a church in Bad Kissingen.

They met because he was stationed over there during the Vietnam War. My Mom was also baptized in this church. It is loved by my family, and we always visit it whenever we go to Germany.

●

●

●

A Church in Bad Kissingen Photo by Stephanie

 Downtown Bad Kissingen is my favorite part of Germany; it feels just like home, and there is always an abundance of things to do no matter how many times you go. My Mom lived in Germany for the first couple years of her life, and visited very often after her family moved to the United States.

In Bad Kissingen, we went to the Tierpark, which is basically an animal park.

You could go straight up to the deer and feed them, and if you tried to walk away they would follow you!!

They also had these wild pigs, and the baby animals were so cute!!

  



Tierpark Photo by Stephanie Photo by Stephanie

Bad Kissingen 2 DPA Autumn ‘12



 This past trip, we did a lot of fun things. My favorite thing to do is the sommerroddelbahn, or luge.

It is a metal track going down the side of a mountain or big hill that you ride on in little cars. It is so fast that it is like a roller coaster that you can control the speed of.

And it is just you riding!

Plus you get to enjoy the pretty views as you are riding down!

The sommerroddelbahn or luge Photo by Stephanie

 PHOTO BY STEPHANIE

One thing that I really love is German chocolate! It is so different then say, regular Hershey’s. It makes Hershey’s taste gross because German chocolate is so creamy and smooth. They have a ton of different varieties. My favorite is Kinder Shokolade (which basically means Kid’s Chocolate, but it is definitely not just for kids!!). Also, my other favorite is Kinder Eggs, which is a hollow chocolate egg with a little figurine or another small toy inside. Sadly, they are illegal in the U.S. due to choking hazards, but they have them in Canada!



BABY ANIMALS AT TIERPARK

  There are a lot of things there that are different compared to the U.S. Even small things, like how most Germans go and get fresh bread every morning for breakfast, and some won’t even eat day old bread! They are very traditional! They also get meat from the local butcher very often.



Wieskirche Church Photos by Stephanie

Flohmarkt

The churches there are absolutely amazing! This Church is my favorite; it is called Wieskirche. So many churches there have such amazing stories about their pasts. This one is so beautiful and completely breathtaking when you walk in. It would be amazing if churches in the U.S. looked the same way! 99% of the churches in Germany were made hundreds and hundreds of years ago! In America, if you see something that was made in the 1600’s or the 1700’s, you would be like “Wow! That is really old!” But for some reason, in Germany, if something is made in the year 1000 or so, it doesn’t seem old at all!



3 DPA Autumn ‘12



 Photo by Stephanie

One thing we got to do this past trip was go to Munich, which is the capital of Germany. We went to see many things, and we even climbed over 700 steps to the top of a tower in a church. Also, we went to a little market or flohmarkt around a church. It sold many, many things that were mostly homemade! Munich is also very famous for its Glockenspiel, a clock show on this church. Hundreds of people come to watch this show every day!

We also went to Partnachklamm, which is basically a gorge with rapids running through it. It was so amazing and beautiful!

Seeing it was definitely one of my favorite things that we did, maybe my favorite!

 View from a Church Tower

 The Top of Zugspitze Mountain

Partnachklamm Gorge

Photo by Stephanie

Photo by Stephanie

 Another thing we did was go to the top of the Zugspitze, which is the tallest mountain in Germany. The view was absolutely wonderful! It was crazy to see something that seemed so impossible to be real! It was over 9000 feet tall, and it took a very long time for us to catch our breaths when we finally reached the top; it felt like we just ran a couple of miles! We also took the cable car up, which was scary, yet fun!



 Germany is a beautiful country; it has awesome food, beautiful architecture, amazing views, and wonderful people. Germany is definitely a place all people should visit sometime in their life!



4 DPA Autumn ‘12

“Waiting For A Hand”

By Rebecca Holzapfel Alone in the dark I stand, Waiting for someone to hold out a hand.

I’ve been alone here forever, Regretting taking up this endeavor.

I thought I was strong, But I was way wrong.

I thought I could do it alone, But I found out I wasn’t made of stone.

Who will reach out his hand To save me from slipping in the sand.

I’m going to drown If you don’t pull me from this unstable ground!

Then, just when I gave up hope, I noticed someone had thrown me a rope.

I grabbed it quickly and pulled myself out, Once I touched the ground, I lost all doubt.

I asked if He was the one who saved me, The one Who heard my fearful plea.

He nodded yes. I asked Who He was, And He answered, “I Am Who Am,” Right then and there, I fell to my knees in prayer.

I thanked Him for rescuing me, For heeding my fearful plea.

He saved me from the terror I had, And now I was oh so glad.

Never again would I go into this endeavor alone, ’Cause I realize now, I’m not made of stone.

I finally understand, I need someone else’s hand, To guide me through this life, And help me through all my strife.

I was alive! Breathing With my heart beating.

I looked up to see my hero, But when I did, I saw zero.

Then a light filled the room, And I heard a loud boom.

When I searched through the light, I saw a Man emerge in white.

Photo by Mary Schmitt 5 DPA Autumn ‘12

Drawing by Sami Certain 6 DPA Autumn ‘12

“Deja Vu”

by Elizabeth Cairnie “Once upon a time there was,” starts every fairy tale of love, then followed by the pretty lass, who’s left to falter through morass, to be rescued by the handsome prince, and live happily ever after.

“It was a dark and stormy night,” begin the tales with little light, then cue and enter the depressed antagonist and wild beasts; a tattered venture all distressed; then exeunt all in darkness.

And we pause to wonder inquiring, have we not seen this all before?

Will these books unlock no other doors, Aspiring to higher themes and more, than those which writers already explored?

The mystery ones start palled and grey, and the space begin with “far, far away;” the sad will start with longing and tears; the romance with passion and far-fetched fears, and the pondering with a question.

Yet, we’re told to hold judgment upon the cover, and our breath for perhaps something new discovered, just to have it all dashed before it’s over, by reading the opening line.

7 DPA Autumn ‘12

Photo By Daniel Dikman

Gypsy Soul

By Luke Williams I felt it on a Friday night, when summer had its sway; when golden sunlight stained the trees and left their shadows gray; I felt it rise up like a spring; it welled up suddenly and banished every other thing, but left its call to me.

I rose, and walked a road for long, but never reached the bend; I sang the verses of a song, but never met its end, and now—the feeling burns in me, and I have no control; and now, the longing churns in me, inside my gypsy soul.

“Wisdom”

by Aug Trembilanse

The beginning of Wisdom is Fear of the Lord, A blessed gift from the Spirit.

The kind of Wisdom that gets further away The closer we get near it.

We contemplate the allpowerful God; We try to know him better.

Yet when our life here is all but gone We learn from the book, but a letter.

His infinite goodness, His infinite Love Are more than we can fathom, And so we find that Fear of the Lord…

Is also the end of Wisdom.

Photo By Clare Wilson

8 DPA Autumn ‘12

Home

by Kate Knighton Search ye wide ‘n’ search ye far, Search to the moon ‘n’ a glitterin’ star; Search to the Vatican’s great dome, But search as ye may, ye won’t find ‘nother home.

Look past mountains, fields, ‘n’ trees, Past roarin’ bears ‘n’ buzzin’ bees; Look ‘round America, England, ‘n’ Rome, But look as ye might, ye won’t find ‘nother home.

Peek over cities, forests, ‘n’ towns, Into circuses peek, over dancers ‘n’ clowns; Peek into a dictionary ‘n’ a big tome, But peek as ye may, ye won’t find ‘nother home.

For there’s but one home for each of all persons: Celebrities, Kings, Queens, ‘n’ parsons; Whether that place is Paris or Nome, Look as ye may, ye won’t find ‘nother home.

“Love Remains”

by Monica B. Love remains for all that it can be Existing forever, for you and me No other place the sun would shine Only on us to lead and guide Love shows us a new way to live— So many ways for it to be expressive, Softly through your kiss Or by your touch that I miss.

Cherished moments kept close to my heart That no one can ever tear them out; Beauty of love comes from all around, Peace in its sound.

Your eyes are a mystery— Clear as day, looking at me.

There is a love in your gaze; Only you can captivate me.

My love for you is as deep as the sea Or high as the heavens above, Peaceful as a new-born fawn And as sure as breaking dawn.

And the sunshine shining forth for all to see, My love for you is all that it can be Existing for all times, forevermore!

This place is where ye has lived ‘n’ laughed, Whether ye clever or whether ye daft.

Far ye may wander ‘n’ far ye may roam, But search as ye might, ye won’t find ‘nother home.

Drawing By Sami Certain

9 DPA Autumn ‘12

“Love Remains”

by Monica B.

Love remains for all that it can be Existing forever, for you and me No other place the sun would shine Only on us to lead and guide Love shows us a new way to live— So many ways for it to be expressive, Softly through your kiss Or by your touch that I miss.

Cherished moments kept close to my heart That no one can ever tear them out; Beauty of love comes from all around, Peace in its sound.

Your eyes are a mystery— Clear as day, looking at me.

There is a love in your gaze; Only you can captivate me.

My love for you is as deep as the sea Or high as the heavens above, Peaceful as a new-born fawn And as sure as breaking dawn.

And the sunshine shining forth for all to see, My love for you is all that it can be Existing for all times, forevermore!

10 DPA Autumn ‘12

Home

By Meagan Robinson My bloodshed path that led me here, Burns like fire and dries like tears.

It's still the only place that I can go— The only thing that will ever be home.

All of my hopes and my damaged soul— Thrown into the fire like deep black coals, But where am I supposed to go When this is the only place that will ever be home?

The wind will blow memories into the past.

I'll lay down my burdens and try to run fast, But these haunting demons won't let me go.

Where will I ever be home?

A sweet refrain drifts down from above.

It brings good news in the shape of a dove.

It tells me of a place to go, Reminding me I'm not far from my true home.

Photo by Clare Wilson

11 DPA Autumn ‘12

Pumpkin Cheesecake

by Clare Wilson

If you love cheesecake, and you love pumpkin pie...why not try putting the two of them together? Result: a mouth-watering dessert for a perfect autumn day.

Crust: 1/4 cup margarine or butter 1 1/4 cup graham crackers or ginger snaps, crushed into crumbs Melt butter in a saucepan and stir in crumbs. Press into ungreased 9"x 9" springform pan and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes.

Filling: 2-8 ounce packages cream cheese, softened 1 cup sugar 2 eggs 1-14 ounce can pumpkin 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon ginger 1/2 teaspoon salt Beat cream cheese and sugar together well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each addition. Mix in remaining ingredients. Pour over crust. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 1 hour or until firm. Chill and garnish with whipping cream. Sprinkle a bit of nutmeg or ginger on the whipped cream if desired.

12 DPA Autumn ‘12

The Onyx Legacy

By MarA Ng Part 5: Kate was scared, confused, and aching all over. The past week was the most exhausting week ever. First of all, it was her brother’s birthday, so she had to think of a gift to give him. Second, her sister bought a stupid birthday gift that got them into a lot of trouble. Third, they were being chased by psychotic, demented villains who want to get their hands on a cure for some disgusting disease. And just when it couldn’t get any worse, she had to stay in an utterly ugly and drab room with her sleeping beauty of a brother lying on a couch from a Star Trek movie, while her older sister happily explored the new OSRA headquarters.

“I can’t believe this is happening,” Kate grumbled while settling herself onto the empty couch, “Just when I was planning to have a very peaceful weekend, all these things had to happen! And why did Cassidy leave us alone?!”

Kate eyed the metal door, walls, and furniture. There was a futuristic metal table between two gray leather couches in the middle of the room—Nick was lying on one while she was sitting on the other.

There was a giant T.V. screen on one of the walls, while the opposite wall was decorated with pictures of different people in shiny silver jumpsuits. Chairs were lined up in front of a table of some sort which was placed in front of a large window overlooking a grassy expanse.

All over the room, Kate saw many different machines, gadgets, and other electronics.

Even though there was a popcorn machine and a vending machine at one corner, everything was simply too bright and metallic. Evelyn called it a special break room for VIPs, but to Kate, it was just a shiny jail cell. Sure, the room was spacious, but it annoyed her so much because it looked like some hi-tech, scifi meeting room that would make her brother drool and suffer a nerd attack.

And the only person who would’ve appreciated the interior design was KO’d on a tacky couch. Another thing that was really annoying was the simple-minded robot, named R.E. Unit 02, that was assigned to them. REU02 was a bluishsilver, baseball-sized, spherical floating robot with hoops of electric energy revolving around it. It looked like a really small metallic Saturn with the amount of rings it had. “Are you all right, Miss Kate?” REU02 asked in a strange robotic voice which wasn’t the monotone Kate expected. “Sir Nicholas will soon wake. There is no need for you to worry. We shall play a few games if you need cheering up.”

More games, Kate thought miserably.

While she lamented her frustrating situation and muttered complaints, the titanium alloy automatic doors suddenly slid aside, letting a tense Cassidy and an anxious Evelyn enter the room. The two slowly sat on chairs by the window without saying a word.

“Welcome, welcome, Miss Evelyn and Miss Cassidy. How may I be of service to you?” The robot offered. “What’s up with you two?” Kate asked while rolling her eyes at the innocent, floating robot.

“Let me guess, you both hate this ugly room too. And since we’ve agreed on that, why don’t we look for a nice room, with plushy pillows, and a bubble-tea machine? Then we can ditch Nick and REU02 to look for a proper masseuse because my whole body has been aching since we got here!” Kate waited for an answer, but none came. 13 DPA Autumn ‘12

“I can look for a masseuse for Miss Kate,” REU02 offered, though Kate rejected the idea without delay. Then, Cassidy started rummaging through her backpack. When she found a handkerchief, she took her necklace off, and started polishing the stone while saying something under her breath.

Evelyn watched her with interest, tilting her head to one side.

Kate let out a sigh. Was she really the only normal one in the room? She thought for a moment.

Yup, I guess I am. After all, Nick is sleeping like a baby, and Cassidy is polishing that ugly necklace while talking to herself. And Evelyn is actually interested in it! Plus, the stupid robot keeps offering to do things it actually can’t anyway.

Uh oh! Kate thought. Cassidy is polishing her necklace. She only does that when she’s nervous.

Then she ends up in a daze and just stares at nothing. Nick won’t be happy about this. But what can I do? It’s not like I can stop her anyway. I’ll just go before Nick wakes up and they start arguing. “Since you two are already here to watch over Nick, I’ll go take a nap in another—” She stopped midsentence when she heard a groan from the other couch. Then all three girls quickly rushed to Nick’s side to see if he was okay.

“Are you hurt, Nick?” Kate asked anxiously. She would never admit it to anyone even if she was tortured—well, maybe she would if that ever happened, but she was really worried about her brother. He was her older twin brother after all, even though they never referred to themselves as twins.

“Nick! Wake up!” Cassidy yelled a little forcefully.

“Shh!” Evelyn warned them. “We don’t want him to wake up too soon because he might get severe headaches as a side effect of the stun laser.”

“Yes, yes! Quiet! Quiet!” REU02 shrieked.

You’re the loud one! Kate thought.

The girls made sure to lower their voices, but Nick woke up anyway. . At first he was startled to see three faces staring at him intently, but once he remembered what happened, he leapt from the couch saying that enemies had already found them.

Kate shook him by the shoulders, poked him in the ribs a few times, and examined his face.“You seem fine, but calm down. We’re safe in the OSRA headquarters now. Evelyn found us a few minutes after you fainted, and she brought us here,” when she looked around the room, her heart sank, “we’re here…in this ugly room.” Evelyn made him sit on the couch, and started checking his eyes with a small flashlight. “Hmm. Kate’s right. You look okay, but are you feeling dizzy or nauseated?”

Nick shook his head. “My eyes are just a little blurry, but it’s like that when I wake up. Plus, I’m nearsighted.”

“He’s fine. He’s fine. But nearsighted.” REU02 chirped happily. “Well, it’s a good thing you’re all right. Even though the man who used the stun laser on you wasn’t an enemy, you’re eyes or even your brain could’ve gotten seriously damaged.”

Nick’s eyes grew wide. “Wait a second. What do you mean by ‘not an enemy’? That guy aimed that thing at me and next thing I knew—!”

“Let me explain,” Evelyn spoke serenely with a slight smile. Nick blushed from embarrassment and stayed silent. “The man you saw at the bus station earlier was an agent of OSRA. Apparently, he was given wrong orders to look for three children—you and your sisters—and to capture them for interrogation. He was told to take you to a certain safe-house. It’s a good thing I arrived in time to stop him. When we looked into it, we discovered that his phone was hacked, and someone else, not the OSRA, was giving him orders. You might’ve been taken straight to the enemy if we didn’t stop him.”

Kate gasped. “Are you serious?”

Nick asked good-naturedly. “A trained agent was tricked?”

“Yes, yes. An agent was tricked,” REU02 said sadly.

“Yes. We knew immediately that it was the enemy, but now we finally have an idea as to who the enemy is. It’s actually all thanks to the agent’s mistake and you being stunned at the bus stop.”

“Wait. If that was from the enemy, why did you trust the anonymous tip about finding a clue in the Onyx Legacy game so easily? What if it actually came from the enemy?” Kate asked.

“I see you’re quite observant. One of the founding scientists of the OSRA wasn’t found after the fire that destroyed the old HQ. We assumed the message was from him because it was sent to a—let’s just say classified—account in a special code that he made himself. It’s as simple as that. Of course, we can’t be too sure in these situations.”

“Oh, I see.”

“Anyway, is it really true an agent was tricked so easily, Cassidy?” Nick snorted with amusement and looked at his sister. He found it a little weird that she was staying silent. Then his smile faded once he saw her glazed eyes and blank face. When he looked at her hands and spied a piece of cloth and the onyx necklace, he immediately snatched the necklace from her and stuffed it into his pocket.

Evelyn and Cassidy were surprised at the sudden action while Kate was too busy twirling her hair nervously. REU02 was making weird beeping noises while spinning.

“Hey! Why’d you do that?” Cassidy snapped at her brother. “Give it back. That’s my necklace. Mom gave that to me!”

“No way,” Nick shook his head. “There is no way I’m going to give it back. Especially since you always leave us alone when you’re doing that! You told us that you wouldn’t leave us again! You promised! But you’re doing it again anyway!

Remember when we promised that we’d never leave each other alone? Do you remember what happened to you the last time? You almost didn’t snap out of your confusion! Your face stayed blank for days and you didn’t eat after you thought about those things!”

Cassidy couldn’t say anything to defend herself.

Nick was right, but she somehow found herself polishing her necklace and staring at it whenever something came up. “Fine. Do what you will!” She grabbed her backpack and stormed out of the room.

Evelyn and REU02 followed her out, trying to calm her down.

“I can’t believe her!” Nick kicked the couch, scowling and scratching his head.

“Nick, I have to tell you something.”

“What is it, Kate?” Nick answered her slowly.

“I know you’re angry with Cassidy, but I think it actually helps her calm down.”

Nick shook his head. “No. That’s not true. I saw what happened before. She told us she had a nightmare, and then she suddenly grasped that necklace and muttered unintelligible things. Then she started wiping it with a towel. Once she finished, she just stared at the wall with a blank face. She didn’t talk or even move—all she did was breathe. She does that because she’s terrified of something. She just couldn’t tell us about it.”

Kate thought for a while. “Well, even then.

Don’t you think she has a lot to deal with? I saw her when you were knocked out. She really knows lots of things we don’t, and she did things I never thought she could. I bet she was suffering while trying to keep all those secrets.”

Nick raised his head and gave her a questioning look. “What do you mean?”

“Well, when that guy stunned you with that thing, Cassidy beat him up! Like, kung-fu style. I’m serious! She was punching and kicking and dodging, and then the guy was sprawled on the ground! After that, when Evelyn came, she and Cassidy spoke in some weird code. And they kept talking about things I never heard of before. They were saying things about OSRA, the Korius Disease, and some big fire. While she was talking, she kept looking at me with a weird expression.

She looked so guilty for not telling me—not telling us—everything she knew. I think we should just give her a break. After all, she’s the one taking care of us now.”

Nick grunted. “It annoys me so much that you’re right. But I guess I can forgive her this time. Still, we can’t let her do it again. Promise you’ll help me, Kate?”

Kate smiled and hugged her brother. “Of course I’ll help. But seriously, you should’ve asked me to help you before. Still, you have to apologize to Cassidy first when she comes back.”

To be continued....

15 DPA Autumn ‘12

Photo by Mary Schmitt

Photo By Daniel Dikman

Photo By Mary Schmitt

Photo By Mary Schmitt

16 DPA Autumn ‘12



Flag of Freedom

By Kate Knighton Flying over hills and mountains O’er fields of luxuriant green, O’er towns and cities and countryside, O’er both forests explored and unseen.

Flying o’er children and adults All salute with a steady hand, The flag of Freedom, red, white, and blue, Flag of justice, this flag of our land.

It has swept o’er desolate battlefields Watched men die with groans of pain, To set their land free, above all else, For this they would do it all again!

It has floated over us in times o’ peace As well as in war and in strife, It has watched its people find a new beginning, Settle down to a free way of life.

It has watched its enemies flee At the sight of those privileged to bear The red, white, and blue. If freedom’s at stake Its people take no chances there.

It’s been a beacon of hope to those Immigrants, who fled their land in fright; From death and hunger found love and life From this, our flag, freedom’s own light!

It has watched its children day after day File into their schools to learn, Their parents can send them because this flag Sends them freedom instead of concern.

It flies o’er men and women alike; They salute with affectionate hand, The flag of the brave, the red, white, and blue, Flag of freedom, this flag of our land.

 

17 DPA Autumn ‘12

CREDITS: Manager: Ashley Miller

Assistant Manager: Stephanie Miller

Editor: Natalie Kellner Assistant Editor: Mara Ng Deo Patriae Amicis Newsletter. All rights reserved.Deo Patriae Amicis Newsletter. All rights reserved.

Design: Stephanie Miller Subscribe to the DPA Newsletter at: dpa.subscriptions@gmail.com Send your submissions to: dpa.submissions@gmail.com CONTRIBUTORS: Luke Williams

Stephanie D.

Rebecca Holzapfel

Sami Certain

Elizabeth Cairnie

Aug Trembilanse

Kate Knighton

Monica B.

Meagan Robinson

Clare Wilson

Mara Ng

Mary Schmitt

Daniel Dikman Thank you so much for contributing to our Autumn issue! We are really grateful for all the talented students who contribute amazing submissions to our newsletter! We look forward to more submissions from you in the future!

Photo By Mary Schmitt

Š Deo Patriae Amicis. All rights reserved.