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As the summer season slowly melts into fall, it brings a touch of melancholy to lots of people, not just school-age kids. Perhaps it's the old fact that, when we were kids, the word 'summer' was synonymous with 'carefree'... that meant no more worries with the routine of going to school, anxieties about tests or pop quizes and the drudgery of homework filling our evenings. Even as adults, you can hear that sweet word whispered in the cold depths of January and your thoughts immediately soar to three months of sizzling baseball games, cool dips in the lake or pool and making new friends at summer camp. Pitching tents under the Milky Way, poking hot dogs on sticks and making s'mores over the charred remains of firewood is just a dream away. Long car rides, plane or train trips to amusement parks, mountains or seasides or to see family and friends that are dear to us are planned and re-planned for weeks ahead of schedule. Breaking the old routine is a welcome change.

Come September, and we, reluctantly, relinquish our souls to the chilly mornings of autumn. The air is clean and cool, crisp and light. Gardens, decks and yards are jeweled with warm hues of zinnia, marigolds, pumpkins and chrysanthemums. Locusts and crickets hum their long melodies to us as their ancestors did to ours. Lots of kids actually look forward to school, after missing some of their friends over the summer. New clothes, new teachers, sometimes even a new school can bring on feelings of excitement. Comforting smells from warm kitchen ovens or crockpots welcome us in the door after a busy day. Jackets, sweaters and sweatshirts are pulled from the backs of closets and sandals go in hiding for a few months. High school bands at football games drum up large crowds on chilly Friday nights. Later in the month, if you're lucky enough to live in the country, you can hear the hum of combines across the fields, just as the sun is about to go to sleep. A big, orange harvest moon takes its place, keeping watch over farmers bringing in the season's bounty. Then, when the new morning comes, once again, you see that the horizon has opened up where, only yesterday, the corn stood blocking its view.

Getting back into a routine can definitely be good, especially when we remember to 'live each season as it passes'........

NE COLLEGE STUDENTS SOUGHT to be HIRED as LEGISLATIVE PAGES

September 4, 2009, Lincoln-

Every year the Legislature is supported by a group of bright and energetic college students. The students are hired to serve as legislative pages. Pages often have a keen interest in or curiosity about state politics. Some have gone on to become state senators, while many others continue to work in the public sector after they graduate from college.

The pages perform valuable services for the Legislature, such as helping with preparations for public hearings, assisting senators during committee meetings, and monitoring procedural issues and controlling microphones in the Chamber during floor debate. Kitty Kearns, page supervisor for over 30 years, says that pages have a great opportunity to learn about our legislative process and to get a real insider's look at how the Nebraska Legislature conducts its business. Kitty also notes that, while performing their important duties, the pages still have a lot of fun and develop friends that last a lifetime.

The deadline for submitting page applications and letters of recommendation for the 2010 legislative session is Friday, September 25th at 5:00 p.m. The Page Selection Committee will meet in mid-October to choose individuals to fill the vacant positions. Pages work four-hour shifts and must be able to work 20 hours a week during the session. The 2010, 60-day session will begin on January 6th and continue through mid-April. The hourly wage for first-year pages is $9.28 per hour, and returnees are paid $9.65 per hour. In many instances pages may be eligible to receive college credits hours for their legislative service.

If you are a full-time Nebraska college student with a minimum of a 2.5 grade point average and would like to learn more about becoming a page for the Nebraska Legislature, please contact Kitty Kearns at (402) 471-2304 or send her an email at kkearns@leg.ne.gov You may also contact my office, and we will be happy to send an application form to you.

The Selection Committee chose a student page from the second legislative district in 2008 and again in 2009. I would be very proud to see another page from our district on the floor of the Legislature during the 2010 session.

We welcome your contacts by mail, phone or email.