By Georgia Nelson

I sit and look out the window into the rain. Every day for too many years now looking out at the freeway with cars going by fast – everyone rushing somewhere. Just beyond the freeway are three trees. Its winter now so their leaves are gone and I see the trunks and branches. I have watched those trees grow. The one in the center is set back from the two in front, it is the oldest – it was there first when the two in front were saplings.

I have a good job as far as jobs go – not a career – I did not wish to be a clerical worker when I was a child – but I have to work somewhere and this is as good as it gets for me.

I have a small cube, a window, and I don’t have to stand on my feet all day. I guess the older you get, the more life beats you down, the less you reach for or the more you settle for? 

The older tree spread her branches and became a home to squirrels and birds– she invited them onto her branches to keep them off the two young saplings. The old tree bent her branches away as the saplings grew tall so they could get the most sun – to nourish their roots and branches – to grow big and tall.

As a single mom, I had to make sacrifices – but it never seemed to me like a sacrifice. My boys are the light of my life – the reason I live – they fulfilled every dream I have ever had – they make me complete. I willingly gave up so they could grow – that was my only direction – to make sure they grew up tall and strong and happy, inside and out. I shielded them from the ugliness of life as much as I could and I cuddled them when I could not to make sure they knew even when things are bad – mom is always there to make it ok. What an awesome power that is – Moms are close to god – I can make things ok with my love and a hug – I feel like superman when it works. 

She used to be the biggest tree as she stood watch over the others now years past the saplings grew taller than the old tree in the center – they were magnificent trees – tall, strong, beautiful. The old tree now stunted from lack of sunlight, knarled with age, riddled with scars from years others who rested within her branches. At first glance she looks odd between the two great trees that guard the freeway. She does not look like the same kind of tree and now the two saplings stand like her sentinels in front – guarding her from the freeway noise and smog – protecting her from the wind and bad weather. How quick they grew.

My boys have grown into magnificent men, more than any parent could hope for. I am bursting with pride and when I see them. It takes my breath away at how handsome they have become. Big, tall, strong, beautiful men – that I grew! I can still make them feel better with a hug but they now are my sentinels – my strength – as I sit looking out the window into the rain – I am willing them on to success and happiness as adults. How quick they grew.