A Gift From A Fallen Tree

Driving into my driveway I finally realized how yellow my house is. I even have a front porch! It all seems so different now that my tree is gone. It was my birthday. I was about to take Hailey to softball practice when we heard the crack. The loud snap was followed by a dull thud. My Bradford Pear tree had decided to disfellowship half of its body. My neighbors showed up with chainsaws in hand. (Men love an excuse to use a chainsaw!) We had three running at the same time. The noise was exhilarating. When the cleanup was finished, reality set in. We had lost our tree.

This was our tree the kids climbed on. This was the tree that provided shade for the yard. This was the tree I rescued several years ago when it split. I drilled a hole through the trunk, put in an all thread rod, two large washers, two nuts, and Frankentree was born.

I ask the kids what kind of tree they wanted. One quickly responded, "One I can climb on." I thought it will be at least ten years before they can climb in a new tree. By then Hailey will be out of college, Heather will be graduating college and Caleb will be seventeen. Ouch! Did that hurt you as much as it did me?

The man said I have some choices. I can go back with a fast growing tree; however, the time you have them isn't very long. You get to keep them about 18 years. Or, I can go with a slow growth tree that will be here 100 years from now. However, it will not provide real shade for 20 -25 years! I asked him if he had any trees without a "however."

Soon I will have a new tree in the front yard. Someday I will have shade covering my yard, flower beds, and house. But Today I will be enjoying the moment with my children. They grow fast. You don't get to keep them very long. That lesson was the best birthday gift a tree could give!

September 6, 2006