FROM A DISTANCE Last Saturday, I sat on one of the bleachers at the university gymnasium and looked into the ocean of people sitting center stage in the gym. They were all dressed in black caps and gowns. As I stared into the crowd, I saw her -- our youngest child, Becky, stand out. Her blond hair made her easy to spot. I watched her as she scanned the audience, in search of her family and friends. I quietly stood up and walked into the aisle and waved. The instant that she saw me, a big smile covered her face. I was as proud as I had ever been in my lifetime. My husband, Roy, and I had worked hard. With three children and eleven straight years of having someone in college, our funds were running low. I thought about how many of those years the two of us had held down at least two jobs. At that moment of glory, however, I realized that our time and money had not been wasted. Becky was graduating from college. The future before her was bright. As parents, I realized that we had done our jobs well. We had encouraged the children to be the best they could be. They all held degrees from the universities of their choice. Our twin sons have jobs they enjoy and one has even provided me with a precious granddaughter. I realized how blessed I had been. For a few minutes I sat there and stared at Becky. From a distance, I saw hope in her face, and I saw joy in her eyes when she spied the crowd of people attending graduation on her behalf. I saw the past and then immediately I saw the future. It seemed like just a few weeks earlier when Becky had graduated from kindergarten. I was so proud because she could read and write. Then she was promoted from middle school to high school and received honors. Before long, I sat at the football field at her high school and watched another chapter of our lives being concluded. When she left home to attend college, bittersweet feelings filled my heart. Now several years later, we had reached another milestone in our lives. We had finished the course that we had started over a decade earlier. We celebrated with a graduation party for Becky the next day. I thought back over the years as we played a videotape that held pictures of my daughter from the day she was born to the day she graduated from college. I remembered how I had put my own life on hold after my children were born. My college years were cut short and I never completed my course of study. "Now is the time for you to go back to school, Mama!" Becky announced. "I'm too old now," I explained. "For heaven's sake, I'm a grandmother." "You're never too old," Roy insisted. Later that day, I picked up a college bulletin and began to tremble. "Maybe it is time," I thought. "Maybe I should go back to college." From a distance, I saw myself sitting center stage, awaiting my own diploma. Today, I'm considering the idea, but haven't come to a firm conclusion as to what I should do as of yet. Over the years, I've worked hard to earn lots of degrees. My husband obtained his Master's degree after we were married. We put three kids through college. Therefore, I have helped to earn four university degrees. Should I go back? Could I succeed? Do I need a diploma with my name on it? I guess only time will tell. -- Nancy B. Gibbs .·:*´¨`*:·..·:*´¨`*:·. *: * Richiele * * *·. .·* `*·-:¦:-*´ ³´`*:»§«:*´`³