I like this photo. I took it last year when I was still helping my friend Johnny do tree work side jobs. I love trees. I remember being in Kindergarden or first grade and reading a poem in front of the school on Arbor day as we planted trees. I spent so much of my childhood hiding in the woods having adventures and making forts. I've always wanted a tree house. I didn't have anyone to help me make one when I had many trees in my yard and now that I have a friend who could build me a sweet tree house, this lot only has two trees which are Bradford Pear trees at the beginning of the driveway. Johnny is a tree climber and one of the best. I loved running the ropes, helping him pull trees over and dragging brush. It's an artform for those who love it. So many people do things just for the money, but if someone asked him to take down a perfectly healthy tree he always tried to talk them out of it. It's hard work, but I miss it. Spending all day in nature is a feeling that I don't get any other way. I learned how he lightened the tree up and made it healthier buy making carefully calculated cuts. If you ever drive by a shockingly butchered tree, you realize that just anybody can't do it right. Had I come to it when I was younger, I might have made it my occupation. The men were always shocked when I began to work to see how strong I was for my size and age, but the arthritis in my spine just won't allow me to do it anymore. I am very grateful for the couple of years my friend paid me to help him and taught me so much. It was a great experience and it always felt like I was close to God when I was in the woods. Looking at this photo I can smell the green and woodsyness like a sweet memory, if that makes sense.
I missed Farrah's documentary the night it aired, but I woke up on Sunday morning and watched it on MSN. I watched it alone on my laptop and I was so moved by the grace in which Farrah has dealt with her cancer, the treatments and her life. She is an amazingly positive woman who is fighting to live and has chosen to lay bare the most intense and intimate moments of her life during her battle with cancer with the hope that it might help others. I was so filled with compassion, admiration and respect for her when this documentary ended. I was also more grateful for my health and my life than before I(Photo Credit: Reuters ) watched it. I went to Mark and convinced him to stop working at the computer and watch it. I noticed he was very quiet when I heard the closing music and I called out to him. I wanted him to really see that no matter how bad we have it right now that we shouldn't waste a minute feeling sorry for ourselves. Even through her unbearable suffering, she showed us that life is a gift and worth fighting for as well as how important it is to research your options and make informed medical choices. It also drives home how important regular exams, screenings and seeking medical attention for anything that seems out of the ordnary for our bodies. Fear and lack of health insurance over the past seven years have caused me to stop doing this. I am going to find a primary care physician right away. I will continue to pray for Farrah, her family and friends and everyone stuggling with illness as well as the care takers in this world because I do believe in miracles.
Do you go in for regular exams and screenings as often as you take your car?
Peace,
xo Susi xo
3 comments:
I loved hearing about your experiences with trees. I've always been close to them too, playing in the woods as a child, walking up the lane behind our house and talking to the trees there... and here now where I live, I think of the trees as friends, as spirits who sort of look over me, in their way, always sending out their healing energy. Glad to hear you're feeling better. :)
I am making my appointment for the big colonoscopy this summer. No excuses!
I love trees too. They are living, breathing entities. I feel their life. I have always wanted a tree house too. I insist we will have one for my grandson.
Hope you are feeling well.
Dearest Susi,
Isn't it truly amazing how some of us "feel" such a connection to mother earth? Those of us who are are even more blessed that's for sure. I have a tree story to share too. It's actually the first tree I ever planted. When we first moved into the casa we live in currently, my husband, daughter's and I planted our Willow tree. I call her Grandmother Willow and over the years have watched her grow and also talk to her as well. She's 7 years young now is is well over 35 feet tall. We have several Oaks, and one Maple and are very high maintenance trees. I have to admit I have a love/hate relationship with them because of all the acorns,and spring pollen that falls from them that has to be cleaned every spring and fall. I should take a picture to show you. Anyway, glad to know that you have such a positive attitude as you recover. The love you have inside yourself shall see you through to full healing. By the way, thank you so much for listing me as one of your 6 faves for bloggers!! You are sooooooooooo SWEET!!! I would love to partake in this!!! You too have a beautiful and blessed day!
(((((hugs))))))~ Steph
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