This week our family had to say goodbye to a very old, beautiful tree in our backyard. It wasn’t just any tree, it was the tree that made our backyard. It was the first thing you saw when you walked out onto our paved patio area. It shaded our grass, and it’s long branches hung in a perfect placement over our yard. Apparently, that was the problem. I guess some people view older trees that hang over their property and have the history of breaking branches as dangerous or something. Fine, I will admit it, the tree was a hazard, but I will still say that it was not dead and we didn’t have to cut it down. But, we are just nice, I guess and wanted to keep peace with the neighbors. So, we got to make an “investment” of cutting down our beloved tree.
It is not the same without my tree. The yard knows it too. It feels incomplete and naked without it, you can tell. I feel like our grass is so upset by it, that it has just given up on life, and become brown. (Ok, it could also be the immensely hot days with no relief that is doing that, but it could be the tree.) I have been feeling really melancholy about it ever since Tuesday. We kind of have some yard vanity issues. One of the reasons we bought our home was because of the beautiful, flat backyard. It is my husband’s pride and joy. Literally, I think. We love to entertain in our backyard. So, it just doesn’t seem the same.
I can’t seem to figure out what it is about trees. I was thinking that people in general tend to have a fascination with certain trees. For instance, they are the center of some of best stories/poems: The Giving Tree, Caps for Sale, Birches by Robert Frost, etc. Some movie introductions are solely pictures of trees like in Phenomenon.
My Grammy had the most beautiful weeping willow tree in her backyard when we were kids growing up. We would climb it, swing from it, fall out of it (Bryan), but it was really beautiful and relaxing to sit under. That tree had to be cut down a couple of years ago, and I know we were all so sad when that happened. Maybe the reason why people love old trees so much is that they stay the same. You can go back to them, year after year, and they never change. Trees are constant, in a world where everything changes. Wow, I am getting deep this morning. 
I have never considered myself a tree hugger, but I just want to say, that I loved my tree, and I miss it. If you have a tree on your property, or at a park that you like, you should give it a hug. Do it for me. You will miss it if and when it is gone one day. Sappy, I know. Get it, sappy? Haha! Pining for my tree. Get it, pining? Haha!
Until next time, your melancholy tree hugger
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- Here is the view of our backyard. My tree is the second one in the back on the right.
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- Another view of the backyard
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I teared up just after reading the subject line of this blog. I knew that going through that range of emotions all over again would elicit some really strong feelings. We have lost a friend, a companion, a wonderful advice giver, and someone you could take to cocktail parties and not be ashamed of. Joking of course, but I’ll definitely miss it.
I’m with you, the back yard isn’t the same without it. It’s going to take quite a bit to whip the back yard into shape again, after the Demolition Derby (all the tree service vehicles) got finished with it! Thanks for posting the pictures of what the back yard once was. Our tree would’ve liked it that way.
You need to plant another tree so you and the family can go back 30 years from now and say remember when we planted that tree and now look how big it is! It will make another family just as happy as you were. Another positive, think of how much paper that tree is providing!
Yes, another tree will take it’s place, but will never fully replace the old one. That’s the reason why I take so many pictures, I know once that moment is gone, I want to have the memory. Every day I can look at Brian’s picture and see him with a big smile on his face hanging from the willow tree. I wish I would have gotten one of him on the high tricycle he rode up and down the road. No one ever saw anything like it in our neighborhood.
We had to cut down our tree in the front yard several years ago. We didn’t realize how much we would miss it until it was gone……..all those memories of the boys hanging from those limbs. Plant another one right now………Jerry buys such little trees. They take FOREVER to grow.
remembered lots of trees from my yards growing up. Early memories of a block-long yard with LOTS of trees. Remember a tree that was felled by a storm (I think) and we played in the branches for a long time…using them as a fort. We moved to a new home with no trees-remember hauling water out to itty-bitty evergreens. Much to my dad’s dismay…not enough hauling..not a one made it through the summer! The willow and maples did though….”made” the yard for 40 plus years until they recently had to come down. Trees are wonderful memories!