Family Trees both real and virtual

This morning I noticed the leaves on a few trees dropping silently to the ground. Another autumn is on it's way and summer is slowly winding down.

I have great trees on our property, a few with stories attached. The Maple tree in our side yard is round and large and healthy; knowing it came from a cutting a past neighbor had stuck in a dirt pile 20 years ago makes it special. The trees alongside our driveway were supposed to be dead and falling over by now. They were a gift from Dolores and Harry the first year we lived here (1985) and arrived at our newly built house dormant and with little or no information. The tags said "fast growing Poplars". That meant nothing to us. We stuck them in the ground quickly without much thought to placement since we were sure they were going to die. All five of them are still here, about 50feet tall and should have been stuck in the ground in other locations. Our most distinctive tree is the one that was abused by 2 storms and at first lost the large back limb and then the front third, which laid on the ground until a few months ago. The flowering pear was my favorite to look at all year and at my insistence (and more accusations as to my sanity or lack thereof) is still standing and alive; even though it is now Y shaped and without much of a backside!

The other tree is our family tree. It is planted everywhere in our hearts and minds. The Magnolia tree in the front yard of my parents home which is perfect for climbing on no matter how young you are, and the Christmas trees surrounded by people in the parlor in Brooklyn, the dead evergreen that my sisters and brother and I hauled along a beach in the 60s and decorated with sea shells, the trees in Lois' yard that were not thrown into the bonfire last June, Cathy, Kenny and their grown kids getting an interesting "Charlie Brown" tree one year from the tree farm. The willow tree that clogged up the entire sewer line on the day of our wedding, hours before the guest were to arrive for the reception in my parents back yard (thanks to my father and the Recines's who took it all in stride) Other trees in Louisville, Chalfont, Sparta, that hold memories of creeks,wild times and wildlife, good food, great company and celebrations. Friendship trees are blooming, too, with so many new people entering my life through faith and books and soirees. The trees in our lives are as varied and interesting as we are!

So once again I look back on the year since my "new year" always starts with the first day of school, and I see the branches spreading out with more connections, leaps of faith, closer and more meaningful relationships, planning for the next adventure and hoping for surprises to come. I will look at my damaged but thriving pear tree and never doubt that we can weather whatever is next because we will weather it together.

"Do not be afraid to go out on a limb ... That's where the fruit is."