My Mama Tree - In
Which I Learn I Am Not Alone Even When I'm Alone
I was about 14 years old, yet again the new kid on the
block, as we had returned from England and moved from our wonderful old yellow
house with the beautiful birch tree, sycamore trees, and apple trees, to a new
house that my parents had loved for years from afar. They were thrilled when
the new house came up for sale, and happily set about purchasing it and moving
the family to the neighborhood across town.
I was sad to leave my friends but happy to explore the
beautiful park that sat across the street from the new house. I discovered a gorgeous
elm tree way down at the end of the park, a tall and stately tree with rough
textured, soft grey colored bark and pale green tiny leaves that shimmered in
the sun.
I would go there and put one arm around it, always greeting
it when I arrived, and saying thank you when I left though I didn’t consciously
know why at the time. It felt like a friendly, strong supportive being that was
nurturing to be with during a time when my life was full of changes. I went
there many times throughout my high school years and enjoyed the constancy of
it.
The feeling I got from this tree was its ability to contain,
listen, absorb my emotion-- and give back a sense of serenity--it had a
strength that took all I gave and gave me back room to breathe. What magic. A
gift.
Years later the city redid the roads around the park and in
the process made the park smaller, cutting down my beautiful tree and paving
over the land where it had grown. That was sooo upsetting, but I will always
have the love of that tree and the times with it in my heart. They gave me
strength and peace that continues to be a part of me today.
I hope that tree now lives in the “Big Garden in the Sky”
that is one of the places I plan to inhabit when I leave this world. What a joy
it will be to see it again.
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