Tree & Me: Trees Keep Time
A story from Tom of Lexington, MA
Welcome to the 5th edition of Tree & Me, a new storytelling series from Leaf & Limb. In each issue, we feature a personal story about trees from one of our readers. This month, our story comes from Tom of Lexington, MA.
Trees Keep Time
Every family has its touchstones. Ours was a tall maple that stood between our house and the one next door, unremarkable until a new family moved in. Their kids and ours became inseparable, and that plain old tree became the “Tree of Life.” In the days before phones, it was their meeting place, launch pad, and lighthouse.
Years passed. The maple declined and was taken down, leaving a hole in the yard. We ordered a bare-root red oak by mail, our “two-kids-in-college tree,” we joked, because it was all we could afford. It arrived like a twig. Rabbits chewed it. Neighbors laughed. It sulked.
And then, quietly, it didn’t. The oak took root. Found its rhythm. Season by season, it reached upward and outward, becoming something strong.
The neighbors moved. The kids scattered. Still, I pass that spot and look up into the oak. We thought we were replacing a tree. Really, we were marking the spot for the next meeting place.
Trees keep the time. People keep coming back.
Have your own tree story?
Do you have a tree that holds a special place in your heart? Maybe it’s a childhood climbing tree, a backyard favorite, or one you planted in memory of someone you love.
Please share your story with us to celebrate the powerful connection between people and trees. You can do so by filling out the form below. Each month, we will select a new story to be featured in this “Tree & Me” series.
