The Puny Pine

1966, a slow quiet, day warm and sunny, a school day.

Grade one, was always overwhelming. However, there was a day a " Special day" as far as I can think back the most beautiful day ever! We were given a " Grade One " tree! A real live tree. I was so thrilled! Well I couldn't stop feeling so grateful. This wasn't a big tree. It was in fact a " Puny Pine" Only to me, it was a " perfect Pine" It was the focus of my whole day.

Was she thirsty, was she bent? Where was she going to go?. We moved so often as I remember. What if we moved? What will happen to my tree. Alot for a grade oner to think about. Think about it I did, this was the greatest gift I was given, ever! My " Puny Pine"

Grandma's house, we planted her there. Grandma never moved, stable rooted. Into the ground she went. Many times worried as the snow buried her, during winter. I remember the snow being so deep, so much for a " Puny Pine " How would she get light? How would she drink? Would she be crushed? Winter lasted far to long. My tree my poor " Puny Pine".

As Spring arrived my excitement grew! Is my tree dead? Did she get to thirsty? Did she get to cold? Thrilled beyond "Hooray" my tree my special little tree, alive.

Years go on, yes we moved and moved. I grew and grew. The thoughts of my tree faded. Faded like the piles of snow that seemed overwhelming. Melted away like the years.

Children of my own, surrounded by trees. Having planted 3 grade one trees. I thought of my Puny Pine. Is it alive? I know my Grandparents, they have been long planted themselves. Do the people in the house know, know that the tree was a Grade One tree? Do they care? Did the tree die? Is the house still standing?

Driving up to the old neighborhood, I talk about the tree, my tree. The tree I to planted in grade one.

Mom, you were in grade one? You had a tree too? You lived here mom? Question after question. My thoughts raced.

The house was small, smaller rhan I remember. The Grand yard, was a small quaint yard modestly planted. Then we see! A mighty Pine, so large, so beautiful, to solitary. There she stood! Reaching up and out. How healthy. She was alive, She was loved, She survived many years of Snow darkness.

The house, was old looking, smaller than I remember. The people living in Grama's house, strangers, strangers who love my tree. People who helpes her, become the Mighty Pine! I see standing before us. The Puny Pine..

Loved, Alive, standing tall. Never moved, never wavered, never uprooted. Solid like a tree planted with love. Like my 3 trees, they are loved they are shooting towards the sky. They are my children, ~

Dedicated to my 3 Special trees. Devon Taylor, Chase..