Over the past several weeks, autumn twinkle-toed in gracefully like a well choreographed ballet followed by a Nov 8th prime time bout that many thought resembled the shock that the world had when Tyson bit Holyfield's ear off on national television.
I learned:
The maple tree in my yard is still there
Fall in Wisconsin is beautiful, and in particular, this fall has been filled with exceptionally nice weather. As a well insulated individual, the autumn in Wisconsin is quite a wonderful time to accessorize my wardrobe. I've found that a nice 60 degree day is perfect weather to put on crocs with socks or wear a sweater vest, you know, for those certain days where your chest might be cold but your guns are hot and need a little air.
I was wearing my sweater vest, and decided to rake leaves after work. The maple tree in our front yard was planted almost 17 years ago, and has done well. This particular afternoon, it had shed most of it's leaves and the kids were anxious to help create some fun. I dutifully raked and my girls excitedly jumped in to the pile. Every time the season changes, I'm reminded that the maple tree in my yard is still there.
While wearing a sweatshirt outside with shorts and sandals, I had to rake again a few days later as more leaves fell. This time, my daughter decided she wanted to climb the tree and read a book in the crook of the lowest branch. Odd, but creative, I obliged with a boost, and continued raking leaves. A few minutes later, I snapped a picture of her reading in her branch engrossed in a story about dolphins or such, and I was reminded that the maple tree in my yard is still there.
After I helped her down from the tree, she and her mother told me my daughter was worried that her birthday, on November 9th, would be ruined by the fact that 1/2 the country would be in a bad mood the day after the election, no matter who won. I gave that some thought, and tried to remember some of the things that I knew had not changed every time there was a change in presidents, and I was reminded, that the maple tree in my yard was still there.
One of my favorite books as a kid was "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein. If you haven't read it in a while, it's a quick read. I clearly failed to understand the symbolism of the book as a child, as I probably dreamed about eating the apples the tree handed off and getting to wear a sweater vest when I was more insulated. As an adult, the meaning has changed a bit for me, and as I saw the book in our house the other day, I thought about how it applied to my girls and me.
Clearly, the unconditional love the tree had for the child most parents can relate to. On the flip side, it could symbolize an example of a horribly toxic co-dependent relationship, I have no clue what Shel's life was like and what kind of partying he was into.
Clearly, one could look at the tree like we see many of the most wonderful people we have all likely met in each of our lives, those that give what they can afford to, expect nothing in return, and always find happiness. We can look at the boy as those that always take more and always live unsatisfied. However, after the sadness and depression that many of my friends and family felt Wednesday morning, in comparison to the satisfaction (not joy) the other half of my friends and family felt for the election outcome, I'd offer up another takeaway that I relayed to my daughter when she worried that half of America would be sad on her birthday, regardless of who won;
There are still people who give what they can afford and expect nothing, and there will always be people who take and will never be satisfied, whether it is a gaggle of donkeys or a herd of elephants prancing about Washington. This doesn't change what kind of person you choose to be to others.
I'm reminded today, the maple tree is still in my yard, and every morning I get to choose to be the tree or the boy
Enjoy
bvd
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