About a Tree

Last night at about 2:00 a.m. I woke up to crashing noises and noticed the electricity flickering on and off. I looked outside and the first snow of the season had covered everything with about six inches of heavy, wet snow. The trees were buckling under the weight of it all, and I listened as tree branches cracked and fell to the ground throughout the neighborhood.

Ken and I got up to try to brush snow off of some of the smaller trees. It was too late. The Autumn Blaze Maple we had carefully planted three years ago stood sad and limp.

We noticed a huge chunk of the tree on the ground and realized that the top had snapped off. Now it can’t grow anymore.

There is something about a tree. It adds character and life to a space. It gives shade, color and a home to some. When we dug up the old juniper bush that had been there for 30 years and replaced it with this sweet little sapling, it made me so happy. It was a fresh start for that little space by the driveway. And as it grew, I loved seeing it get stronger, wider and more beautiful.

And, yes, The Giving Tree was one of my favorite books growing up.

“….And when he was tired,
he would sleep in her shade.
And the boy loved the tree....
very much.
And the tree was happy.”

I just commented to Emma yesterday how the red in that tree was one of the most vibrant and stunning colors of the season, and that I hoped the snowfall wouldn’t take off too many of its leaves. I just wish I had taken a picture of it yesterday.

Here is what it looked like – not our actual tree, but you get the idea:

Yes, I know it’s just a tree not a person. But today it feels like a loss and makes me sad. Plus I’m tired from being up at 2:00 a.m. and my own Autumn Blaze is in town if you know what I mean.

Going to go for a run because a run always makes it better.

SUAR