The first of the year our eldest flew east
Broadway, off-Broadway, theatre feast
A week in New York to see all the shows
Walking Manhattan through ices and snows.


After New York, returning to school
Kim was seductive, controlling and cool
The others were shiftless and seething with rage
For roles in SubUrbia, her first time on stage.


Kim bought a car during break for the spring.
Without looking back our nestling took wing.
At end of school year she moved to Eugene
For life on her own, a shifting of scene.


She landed one job, then two jobs, then more
She backed off from five and settled on four.
Kim worked in a deli and met a new guy,
She taught kids to swim and tap danced with Sky.


Back at Willamette for year number three
This time a role in Greek comedy
Off-campus housing with four of her buddies.
She works and she plays, she does art, and studies.

O for Olympic, a goal that she's set
D for Development, she'll get there yet
P is for Program, one step at a time
ODP District team started her climb.

Next come State tryouts, she hardly can wait
Postponed until March from original date.
The letter inviting her carried her day.
She wants to go NOW and rues the delay.

She's always dancing, she can't hold it back;
An energy burst, an elation attack.
I love being around her. I can't help but laugh
at her faces and antics...a kick and a half.

She does well in school. She still gets straight A's.
Report cards each quarter are loaded with praise.
She plays in the band on a bass clarinet.
It's been a good year that she won't soon forget.

Give him a hammer, give him a wrench,
Give him some tools and a large workbench.
Give him a screwdriver, give him a jack
But be careful what you give him if you want to see it back.


Nik is into cars now and motorcycles, too,
Anything mechanical, a go-cart will do.
As soon as he gets hold of it he's taking it apart.
He purchases his vehicles intact or a la carte.


An engine here, transmission there, and tires all around,
Skeletons of motorcycles, items that he found.


But cars are not the only things, he's also into sports.
Soccer, running, volleyball, he makes the news reports.
State Cross Country meet this year, the best he's ever run.
He'll letter twelve minus two times before high school is done.


Next year off to college, it's application time
I'm really getting tired now so I don't want to rh..... write anymore.