Do you remember climbing a tree—perhaps a favorite tree from your childhood? Can you feel the bark against your skin, the tension of grappling for a hold, the relaxation of settling into the most comfortable crook?
What particular tree is precious to you in memory or in your present?
well, all of us kids use to play in a large, weeping beach tree, we called the castle tree. inside the tree, was a large space created from the rising and then falling branches and the filtering light. we all played in there, learning how to climb to the perches where we could see outside. it was the very best tree. i actually took my family to see it some years ago when we were on a trip nearby.
Just saw this on etsy, in honor of arbor day:
https://www.etsy.com/treasury/MjM5MTEwNzV8MjcyMTY3MjgzNw/contemplating-the-beauty-and-gifts-of?index=17&ref=pr_treasury_more&atr_uid=
Seeing red cedars reminds me of summer vacations when I was a kid.
A weeping willow – back in the days when ‘nice’ girl children didn’t wear pants. I can still remember the thrill, as well as the trepidation, of climbing that tree that was designed to sway with the wind and the fear of falling (AND getting caught!!) as well as the triumph of succeeding. For a girl in those days, who’s sex had brought ‘original sin’ into the world; who was “to smart” to appeal to boys, it was a gift to be able to do something ‘right’!!
That tree became my ‘secret place’ where I was safe and secure from all that I couldn’t change but also couldn’t accept.
What a wonderful story you shared. You are an inspiration!
Thank you.
Two trees come to mind, actually.
There was Chip, a deciduous tree by my elementary school. We played by “him” every day at recess. We named “him” Chip because there was a chipped place in “his” trunk, not quite a hole but something fairly close to it. We couldn’t climb Chip, both because Chip wasn’t big enough and because the teachers would never have allowed it.
Before I went to elementary school, my mom sometimes took me to a park with a huge conifer that I climbed. I could go a long, long way up before the branches became too small. Probably part of that impression comes from my own small stature, but when I went back when I was older, I was still struck by how tall that tree was.
For me it was the ancient redwoods on the south side of the Stanislaus River in Calaveras Big Trees park. These gentle giants that have lived so long through many challenges inspired me to be steady and persistent in what I want to do.
To recognize life in nature and be guided by it seems so natural and right.