Sunday, September 25, 2011

Only God Can Make a Tree

I think that I shall never see
a poem as lovely as a tree. - Joyce Kilmer

I climbed a tree today. I'm 46 years old and I climbed a tree. I was walking my dog through this lovely wooded area in the park by my house, and admiring the old "climbing tree" that my kids used to climb when they were small. It looked inviting.... I thought about it but walked on. Then I turned around, walked back to the tree, and climbed up to the little V crook and sat down.  I held onto the branches next to me. The bark felt rough but nice. I looked around at the view. I looked up into the higher branches. I examined the leaves. And I just sat there for about 5 minutes, taking it all in, enjoying that same exact wonderful feeling that I used to have when I climbed trees as a kid. I felt part of nature and connected to the Earth.  I could feel my heart rate slowing down and my body relaxing. It was quiet and just so...peaceful.

I was only up there for about 5 minutes and I really wanted to stay longer,  but since I had my dog with me, I really couldn't.  I had hooked his leash on a branch, which, if you know anything about my dog,  was a very risky maneuver. If another dog or squirrel  or cat came by at any moment, he would rip that entire tree down to get to it.  I didn't want to test my luck by staying too long, so I reluctantly climbed down.  I will go back another day without the dog. Next time, I will stay a lot longer.

I've had trees on my mind all week. It started with some photos that my aunt put up on Face Book. She lives in Portland, OR in a high rise apartment building where there is a beautiful grove of trees in the front. She sent the photos because the trees are soon going to be cut down to make room for a new stretch of track for their city transit system. She is sad about the trees being cut down, even though the expansion of the transit system will be a good thing.  The people in her building had a little goodbye ceremony for the trees and that really touched me.

A few days later, I read an article on DailyOM about tree houses. The article was about the benefits of having your own tree house. A private sanctuary to go read or think or just be still. I thought to myself how lovely it would be to have a tree house in our yard, except we don't  have an appropriate tree so that isn't going to happen.  My teenage kids would totally balk at that idea anyhow, and if I told them the tree house was for me, that would only confirm in their minds that I truly am the weird,  tree-hugging hippie mom they claim that I am.

Oh well. A mom's gotta be herself. I feel good. I'm glad I did that and I can't wait to do it again. And next time, I'll climb even higher. I don't care who might see me.

When was the last time you climbed a tree?

19 comments:

  1. I agree, only God can make a tree....
    I have had trees on my mind a lot too, especially this time of year. Fall is the most beautiful season.
    There is nothing wrong with a 46 year old climbing a tree. I bet it was the best five minutes you've had in a long time....

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Michael Ann! I have never climbed trees and commend you on your adventurous spirit! When the children were growing we had a tree at the front of our house that Daniel used to go in all the time. He absolutely loved sitting up there in the stillness, and being able to see other people without them seeing him. We used to call him 'Zaccheus!'

    ReplyDelete
  3. I like how you felt your heart rate slowing and body relaxing.

    And I bet up in a tree you didn't even have to think about watching your language...or perhaps you could in fact watch it flow into poetic and appreciative realms...

    Trees figure prominently in the last three posts I have done...2 on "bread" and the other on "write" Maybe your aunt would enjoy those photos and posts... Your tree picture is very a great persepctive.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I've never been much of a tree climber, maybe because when I was a little girl I fell out of one onto a pile of rocks. I still have the scar on my eyebrow to prove it. There are a lot of tree house resorts that people can rent for the night...I've been to one in Oregon but didn't stay there-just did the zip line. Good for you to tap into your inner child! And if I saw Ozzie hooked to a tree I would have been woried!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Why you tree hugging hippie weirdo!
    Why don't you act your age!
    OR
    Since I am definatly too old to climb trees, and I am a bit afraid of hights, climb one for me please.

    Thanks
    The Cranky Old Man

    ReplyDelete
  6. I haven't climbed a tree in years, but I loved doing it when I was a kid. It was such a thrill to hide in the branches and watch the world go by below. Sometimes I even took a book up with me to read for a while. Delightful!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Loved ALL these comments, thank you!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. This makes me feel so happy to hear that you’ve stayed in touch with your inner child and climbed a tree! And so funny to hear that you’d have stayed up there much longer, had it not been for your doggie possibly taking the tree down with you in it! Delightful read ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  9. I am stuck on your Brandi C. video ( love her) She is playing in Napa in December. OK, enough ooh and ahh. Yeah for you for remaining fearless and young at heart. I think sometimes we girls get caught up with a number when really we shouldn't. It's all relative, our perception of ourselves and what we think we should be, look like or, do. Three cheers for you, Michael.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I so enjoyed your blog about the tree and love the fact that you did climb it. I did a lot of things in my 40s that I wouldn't consider in my 70s (only because my body isn't as strong). I'm a tree-hugging hippie with you. enjoy. your aunt told me about the trees and I think it's really awful that nature has to make way for the conveniences for humans..why can't we all just walk a bit more.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Your thoughts reminded me of a book I read a year or so ago, called Blinded By Science by Matthew Silverstone. I don't necessarily recommend the book, although it was unconventional and thought-provoking, but he mentioned something about trees (and plants) giving off vibrations that are healing. Now, that just sounds weird, but I believe that.

    I think about how I feel being in a forest, walking, and how it instantly calms me - it could be the increased oxygen from being surrounded by plant life, but regardless,it's so extremely peaceful.

    I'm glad you had a musing experience. I, too, wish we had a tree for a treehouse. There is a website, treehouseparadise.com, featuring a tree house hotel in southern Oregon - you might enjoy it.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Michael Ann, I will not lie to you. The last time I climbed a tree, I was 14 years old. That said, it hasn't been for lack of inspiration. Last year we visited a park that had majestic oak trees and I would've climbed one had it not been for my fear of heights. I'm glad you took the initiative and see the world from your space in that tree. It gives one a different perspective of how things look below, doesn't it? Kudos to you for your feisty and fearless attitude! We should all be more like you! :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. This is a beautiful story! It conjures memories of climbing my grandmother's tree in her front yard, the same one that housed the real tire swing, not some plastic imitation. To feel young again, like a kid, would be wonderful. I think you've inspired me to go back to that place of my childhood. The tire swing no longer exists, and my agility is questionable, but next summer, when I'm feeling better, I am going to climb that tree. I am going to feel young and innocent and free and like the whole world is ahead of me, waiting. What an awesome feeling you must have had. Great story. Truly touching.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Sounds invigorating,relaxing ans so simple. I have seen pictures of adult treehouses and would love to have one. Maybe someday!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I love Brandi Carlisle. And I especially love that song! Wonderful writing too (you that is, not Brandi)!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Talk about being a kid again. I wish I could climb a tree right about now. What a nice spontaneous moment...

    ReplyDelete
  17. Man, I haven't climbed a tree in ages, I clearly need to get on that!

    ReplyDelete
  18. The tree in front of our house was built specifically with climbing in mind. I loved climbing trees as a kid.

    Have you checked out Pinterest? There are some amazing tree houses in some of the boards. Here are some that I found.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I have thought about this post and looked at trees so differently since I read this! Thank you!!!

    ReplyDelete

I always appreciate what you have to say and I love to reply personally. Do you have your Google profile set to show your email so I can do that?

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...