I don’t know anything about this tree.
I spotted it nearly seven years ago on one of my first runs here in Arkansas, and it just hit some note inside me, and it became my friend.
Can you be friends with a tree?
I suppose if you’re The Lorax you can, but what about a living, breathing person, can that person become friends with a tree?
I suppose so . . .
I’ve made up countless stories in my head about this tree, as I’m sure I’ve told you, and have witnessed it through the four seasons, through all sorts of weather.
It brings comfort and security to me as I run past it in the mornings or late afternoons, and I always save the road it sits along for last along my route.
I’ve seen hawks settle in it’s top most branches and snow gathered about it’s feet.
I’ve seen it in the early morning pearly light, dew drops decorating it’s bark, and I’ve seen it in the harsh noon day sun.
But my tree is best dressed in the late afternoon and twilight golden light.
It becomes majestic and even more lonesome looking, standing as it does in the empty field, surrounded by other empty fields and vacant lots.
In the evenings, the music of cattle lowing in the pastures next to the deserted lots mixes with the notes of the cicadas in the summer; in the winter, only cold winds blowing through it’s bare branches sing it to sleep.
Last night I paid a visit to my old friend, and found him to be as majestic and beautiful as ever.
I DO think you can be friends with a tree! Really good friends, since they never disagree with you! How many arguments have you ever had with this tree? See, I rest my case.
Case closed! ;-)
I definitely think you can be friends with a tree! :) And this one is such a beautiful friend..I’m sure it appreciates the beautiful words you wrote too.
Thank you!
Sent from my iPad
Yes, indeed many of us communicate with trees. My favorite tree appears to be dying. :( Sweet Hubs is carefully tending it and we hope it pulls through. It brings me such pleasure year round and I estimate I’ve captured it in every light in every season hundreds if not thousands of time. Hubs rescued it from neglect when it was sold in a 5 gallon bucket for $5 when it was about 18″ high with a trunk 1/2″ in diameter. It’s more than a friend. It’s family. ;)
In third grade we did a tree project where we learned all about how they grew, how to draw them and we even had to adopt a tree of our own and study it intensely, making a scrapbook of sorts filled with leaves, seeds and bits of bark. It was a really good learning experience. Anyway, I guess the lessons stuck, ;-)