March 21. My world changed with the birth of my son 42 years ago on this day. Always hoped I’d be a good father, and now when I see the way he raises his kids, I feel pretty proud. He has been working with trees for many years now. He was called out to Paradise, California from Thanksgiving to Christmas in 2018, to help clear down trees that had burned but were still upright, and a safety issue. It was quite dangerous, with long dirty hours working through ash and silt. Some trees were still burning in roots and core. He was also trained and certified for cutting down “Big Trees” while in California. Very few of the support team’s personnel were allowed that training.
While on the subject of trees, today is International Day of Forests. For several years, each January, I headed out to California and would Forest Bathe- taking long walks in Big Basin Redwood forest. Japanese call this Shinrin-yoku, and it is used to reduce stress. It works for me.
The picture is me with some really big trees. I have a few interesting Redwood books. The first is “There Stand The Giants” by Harriett E. Weaver, 1960. It is a kids book that does a pretty good job of explaining Redwood trees, and the history around them.
I like the next book “Big Basin” by Alexander Lowry, and Denzil Verardo, 1973. It is signed by both of the authors, and is number 115 of 500. This is the forest that I have walked in on my visits to California.
I have two more hardback books to show. “The Redwoods of Coast and Sierra” by James Clifford Shirley, 1936 also signed by the author; and “Big Trees” by Walter Fry and John R. White, 1945. This is a book about the one tree bigger than a Redwood-the Sequoia.
I also have two soft cover books printed by the Government Printing office. The “Report on Big Trees” 1900; and The Redwood” 1903. The report on Big Trees has several huge fold out maps tipped in, that are about three foot square each.
Today, March 21 is also “World Poetry Day”. I have always loved reading poetry, and shared that love with my college prep English teacher Miss Taylor.
I bought “Reflection on a Gift of Watermelon Pickle” because of the poem ‘How to Eat a Poem’ which Miss Taylor read in class with her usual diction and flair. The class each had to then chose a poem to read aloud. I read-with equal enthusiasm-“The Owl and the Pussycat”…to the snickerings of classmates. Miss Taylor was not amused with my choice (go read the poem). I had to read a second poem, or find myself in disciplinary trouble so I picked the title poem “Reflection on a Gift of Watermelon Pickle Received from a Friend Called Felicity”, by John Tobias. The first part is:
“During that summer
When unicorns were still possible;
When the purpose of knees’
Was to be skinned;
When shiny horse chestnuts
(Hollowed out
Fitted with straws
Crammed with tobacco
Stolen from butts
In family ashtrays)
Were puffed in green lizard silence
While straddling thick branches
Far above and away
From the softening effects
Of civilization;”
Miss Taylor appreciated my reading of that poem a little better. I also have “Mosaics ’76” ZBTHS. This was a yearly book of student art, poetry and prose that Zion Benton Township High School printed. Much to the chagrin of Miss Taylor, my ‘crazy’ story, and ‘kook’ poem were both printed. She thought I was better than that; I should write real works, not silly stuff. There was a love/hate with Miss Taylor. She pushed me harder than any other teacher in high school. She later taught at at College of Lake County, and while I did not take a class from her there, I did stop in and talk with her.
We should all be like trees. Our arms and branches reach out to receive friends and family. The leaves are the canopy to protect them. Our roots grow deep to give us strength and to learn. Our skin and bark should be thick enough to resist harsh criticism and sickness. And perhaps we are all a little nuts…
Thanks for reading.
*”Trees” by Joyce Kilmer
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