Nebraska Artists and then some ...

  I have stood beside you so tall and strong at the peak of your young lives  . . . it is hard to remember memories of you learning how to crawl, continuously falling yet crowing in new achievements. At last, walking in triumph upon two shaky little feet, it is hard to remember old memories. Your first day of school ... scared, shaking inside,  a strong person on the outside . . . another on the inside. You never wanted to be anything less than perfect  yet not wanting anyone to know ... that other person. It is hard to remember old memories of your later years, bikes and toys filling our yard. At times I would awake to find your friends, escaping life by quietly entering that back door,  filled with anger, seeking someone to care,  filled with a need for love and acceptance, seeking peace. It is hard to watch teenage struggles, my own and yours, heartbreaking and unreal appearing to destroy, but only age-old steps in learning what life was about ...  yet always unable to

how often we wish our lives away wishing for this wishing for that if only I was one year older if only I was one year younger or maybe ... not any age at all must I work so hard could not the week be shorter or maybe . . . not work at all if only I could be richer if only I could be wiser or . . . just a little happier wishing for more getting less wishing for yesterday not liking today but always . . . wishing tomorrow away .  ~ work by Nancy L. Young-Houser and poem by Sandra S. Marquiss