This entry is dedicated to all the beautiful "giving trees" to little boys and girls all over the world.
I've been thinking about trees lately. It all started with the book I'm reading (which is not showing on my blog because I can't seem to find the image for it) called "Flipped" by
Wendelin Van Draanen which is now out on video I heard.
What is it about trees that just seems to bring a sense of serentity, calm, connection with the earth, freedom and for many wonderful childhood memories?
In the book 'Flipped,' Juli, a 7th grader discovers this beautiful tree and spends hours in it's branches, basking in it's beauty and the peace and getaway it gives her. It's no surprise she gets quite attached to the tree. Unfortunately, one day "tree choppers" come by one morning while she is waiting for the bus to school to chop it down. She stays up in this tree as that is where she was waiting for the bus as long as she possibly can before knowing it is a lost battle. and climbs down only to run crying to her home. She actually misses school a couple days.
I connected with Juli over the next few weeks as she mourned for the death of one of her "best" friends.
When I was a little girl, we had this perfect tree (it was perfect to me) right out in front of our house. It wasn't very big or beautiful or even unique. It was just a tree. But, it was perfect for climbing, and sitting and playing countless imaginary games in. My two brothers and I had our specific sitting spots that had our names on them. Mine face our house and formed a perfect "Y" for my behind. Often times, we played King and Queen. Of course, I was the queen, Richie was the king and little Anthony was the prince. Boy, did I love that tree. I remember crying in that tree when I was sad, hiding in that tree when I wanted to be alone and confiding in that tree when my mom just didn't understand me.
Oh, the leaves! They grew in a very interesting way. They started, as all leaves do, in the form of a bulb. But the bulb blossomed layer by layer into a white flower like shape. If you caught the growing process at the right time, you could actually use the "heart" to draw with on the sidewalk and it would leave a purple ink. Oh how I loved our tree and I know it loved me.
That love affair ended abruptly for me one day when I came home from school to see that it was completely chopped down to nothing, barely a stump. I didn't understand. Who would do this (it was the city) and why would anyone cut down a living, breathing beautiful existence? Questions of "why," how" ran through my head for what seemed like an endless cycle. I cried for days maybe even weeks. My tree existed only in my memories. Who would I go to now when I was sad or happy or mad or ?
Of course, I got older and busier and slowly my tree memories faded. Somewhat.
What is is about trees?
When I was a single mom , Nicholas and I lived in a townhome (end unit) next to the cutest little stream and next to it was - a wonderful tree! Perfect.
I loved watching Nicholas take out his sword and play sword fighting as the weeping branches swayed in the wind to combat him. I smiled when I saw him put his arms around it's trunk. I listened as he made karate sounds kicking his opponent. I remembered my tree as I witnessed him falling in love with his tree.
Ironically and regretfully, Nicholas experienced the same exact event as me.
One day, we came home from work/school to find his friend- gone. Taken.
The look on his face said it all and my heart sank. The question still lingers: Why?
It may sound silly but it really was, for both of us, a mourning for the loss of a friend. The perfect friend. A giving friend. It didn't take. It gave and gave and gave. It gave us love, listening ears, playtime, quiet time, comfort, peace, serenity and beautiful forever memories.
The next time you see a child thoughtlessly hanging on tree branch about to break. Stop them. Remind them that it is alive.
May we respect all of God's creations.
