She's Baaack. Thanks to all of you for your concern. I haven't blogged for a while because I was away for family reasons. Everyone is fine.
Took a walk in the park with your favorite agony columnist, Mr. Barker, today and had an interesting experience.
We passed under a tree and were startled by three dark-skinned kids swinging from branches in a tree. They were kids out for some mischief but for a second I thought of Nina Simone and her song "Strange Fruit", which made such an impression on me back when.
Mr Barker made his displeasure known at being startled. So the kids were happy.
We walked on and as I looked I saw them swinging from younger and slimmer branches and it was clear that they were in danger of snapping the limb. I vacillated for a second because I know from past experience that any confrontation would not lead to change for them but only aggravation for myself.
Finally, couldn't stand it any longer and went over to them and told them they were about to break the tree. So - they began swinging two or three at a time from the slimmer branches. Discounting the possibility that any of them could have had knives or a gun I went over to address them without anger.
"Hey", I said "that tree is older than your parents and probably older than your grandparents. Why would you want to hurt or kill it."
The ringleader offered the unassailable argument that they were just swingin' and he hadn't wanted to hurt nothin' but I had mentioned the possibility that they could hurt the tree so they had to do it.
"Why", I asked" didn't you say thanks for telling us we could hurt the tree - we didn't realize it" and go onto climbing on thicker branches.
I got him.
For a second he looked right at me and I knew that the possibility that he didn't have to go up against any kind of adult authority on principle but that he could listen and respond the way that he chose occurred to him.
Woo-hoo.
But he was still with his mates. So he gave me some more lip. But it was half-hearted.
Sometimes all we can do is all we can do. You don't have time to grow a tree and gather the fruit but you can plant the seed.
I planted a peppermint willow sapling outside of our house two years ago. It is just getting firm and sturdy and I am as proud of it as if it was my kid having just gotten straight A's in trig. But we will sell up in October and I'll leave it.
I always feel bad for stray animals but at least they can always run away to a possibly kinder owner.
Take care of your trees and plants. And your soil and your wildlife. Where you are - they are. You didn't ask for the responsibility but you got it.
Nice to be back.
