I'm blue. I'm not good with loss.
Thirty five years ago I moved into my current home. At that time and up until yesterday, there was a huge maple tree in the front yard, protecting the residence from the outside world. The tree was majestic and had interesting bark. It lived not only there but in my imagination.
Yesterday it fell. The storm last week cracked a major branch and, in removing it, the tree company said the entire tree has to come down, so it did. Now, there's just empty space where the tree once stood. It feels surreal. And there's no barrier to stop outside marauders from invading my home.
*sigh* At least I still have this picture I took with Holga a few months ago.
Are there any trees in your life?
You might remember that we lost one of our 200+ year old Gary Oaks from our condo's front yard a couple of years ago - that one had to come down after it fell, and another was deemed too precarious to stay. We miss them so much - they used to provide us complete screening from our neighbours.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry for your arborial loss, Ally. Glad you have this great picture.
Thanks for understanding so well.
DeleteI'm so sorry for your loss.
ReplyDeleteA local artist is researching people's relationship with particular trees.
I immediately thought of two trees outside our previous house. One of which I painted.
They are such a presence in our lives and shape us, much like pets.
However, like pets, they all too often have a shorter lifespan than we would wish.
Plant another tree in it's place for future generations to enjoy, to remember it by.
Xo JJ
Thank you, JJ.
DeleteI'm so sorry for your loss, Ally. I'd be completely devastated. xxx
ReplyDeleteThanks, pal.
DeleteOh friend I am so sorry to hear that :(
ReplyDeleteThanks, girlfriend.
DeleteI'm sorry for your loss. Trees can be such a comfort with their serene presence. I'm always happy when I see that some old tree has been preserved and always sorry when I see them go. It is good you have this photo to remember it.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ivana.
DeleteI am so sorry, Ally. I completely understand how sad this is...some people will think, "Oh, it's just a tree" but it's so much more than that! I hope your photo provides you some comfort.
ReplyDeleteTrees are the best part of nature. A connection to the past.
Deletehave a nice week ahead.
ReplyDeleteI totally understand this. My parents planted some trees, one in front and one in back, when I was about three years old. Those trees grew with me. A few years ago, the one in front had to come down. I was sad, but at the same time it was around the time that I had gotten married and was thinking about a family, so it's kind of a symbolic thing in a way that this piece of my childhood disappeared. <3
ReplyDeleteInteresting how that tree tracked your personal growth.
DeleteAwww. I've learned via reddit just how much big old trees are worth as property owners. And as a person, have learned how incensed i am losing foliage. Our (?) Landscapers for the apartment complex came and ripped out several bushes in front of people's apartments. They took one of our four. The bushes are the only privacy and weather protection the little patio has as we're on the ground floor. There are no sides or half walls. Just bushes.
ReplyDeleteThey left a big mud spot that has repeatedly filled with water due to all the storms and no longer having a bush there. We contacted the office who claimed they had no idea they had planned to rip out the bushes! I'm still bewildered and salty about it.
Oh I am SOOOO sad about this for you! I really hate it when old trees get cut down or sick or have to go for any reason. My neighbours in my childhood home had a wonderful old pear tree and my lovely Blackbird would sit at the top of it singing his heart out every day. One day, it got chopped down- it was such a loss. Similarly, we really loved that blue Ceanothus tree that lived in our neighbour's garden. Up to May it was buzzing with bees and birds and provided such joyous colour and then it was cut down to make way for an ugly shed! It's worse for you that you didn't have a choice! I hope you can plant something, anything to provide something to fill the void but, as often people, not you, fail to realise that an old tree gives so much more than just mere oxygen- I think they have many other powers we don't know about, and anything else planted will not grow to such majestic proportions.
ReplyDeleteThanks, pal. I'm glad you understand.
Delete