Sentimental

At the end of May 1999, my husband and I moved into our house (in it's current location). When we first found the property, it was perfect. There was a beautiful "little" pine tree in the back yard that was the only thing we made sure the contractor did not upset. Since that time, we have enjoyed this tree and how much it brings to the back yard. The only thing that I really didn't like about the tree was the fact that it was hard to mow around. But, it was perfect....and ours.

A few years ago, as with many Michigan winters, we got a really heavy, wet snow fall. While the snow was beautiful as it hung on the trees, it had bent our little pine tree over and we were afraid we would lose it. However, the tree bounced back after the snow thawed, although it gave the tree a permanent "S" shaped trunk. Since that year, we have watched as the winters have been hard on the tree, but it was pretty much always able to bounce back pretty nicely.

Unfortunately, however, the tree didn't make it this winter. During a particularly heavy snow fall, we lost two rather large branches from the tree which left too many big holes. After a fairly tough decision, we decided we better just cut it down. It was a tough decision, and one that I regretted briefly as the tree fell tonight. I actually started to cry even...

Now, some of you are reading this and wondering why I am so attached to a tree. Well, here is my reason: We fought for that tree so that it would be a part of what our lives and would symbolize our growth together. Although already a fairly mature tree, the fact that it would grow with us and our family was an important thing to me. Remember in elementary school you were always given a pine tree on Earth Day or something? It was much the same thing for us when we found this property.

So, I leave you with a picture of the tree before (from a couple of years ago)...


...and after....