The Giving Tree

tree saga part 3 continued

This is the majestic Liquid Amber that was planted when the housing development was built 35 years ago. If you have been following my blog you know that the unfortunate tree was planted in the wrong size front yard and eventually had to be taken out due to root damage inflicted on surrounding areas. It was a sad, sad day when men came to take it down. That mighty tree provided shade and beauty, and a home for assorted birds and other critters.

It reminded me of Shel Silverstein's book, The Giving Tree. With all due respect to the author, I'd like to quote a few lines here ~

Once there was a tree and she loved a little boy.
And every day the boy would come and he would gather her leaves and make them into crowns and play king of the forest.
He would climb up her trunk and swing from her branches and eat apples...
And when he was tired, he would sleep in her shade.
And the boy loved the tree.
And the tree was happy.

The story goes on to tell how the tree willingly gave to the boy throughout the boy's entire life until at the end of the story, all that is left is an old man and a stump of a tree

"I'm sorry, Boy," said the tree, "but I have nothing left to give you ~
My apples are gone...my branches are gone...my trunk is gone.
I'm sorry," sighed the tree.
"I wish that I could give you something but I have nothing left. I am just an old stump."

"I don't need very much now," said the boy, "just a quiet place to sit and rest. I am very tired."

"Well," said the tree..."an old stump is good for sitting and resting.
Come, Boy, sit down. Sit down and rest."

And the boy did.
And the tree was happy.

That story just knocks me out. It's really about unconditional love. I thought about how much our Liquid Amber had given us unconditionally over the past 15 years.

And now we have planted an appropriately-sized Chinese Pistache to take its place. It will take time before the young trunk grows tall and strong, and the limbs flesh out to provide shade ~ but I did see a tiny finch rest on one of its branches shortly after it was planted. I think it's destined to be a new giving tree after all.