Yes, I'm a tree hugger. I feel an incredible respect and affinity for
trees; always have. It started when I used to climb trees as a kid in
Detroit. Our backyard was barren, aside from overgrown grass and a beautiful maple tree. I remember climbing that tree so
many times, resting in the crook of large limbs, looking down over the
scraggly back yard and quiet alley. I felt invisible and protected
there.
About a year ago I found my childhood home on Google Earth and
was sad to see the house was a wreck, along with the rest of the
neighborhood. My tree was gone.
Since those days in
the late 60's and early 70's, I've lived among trees. I've lived under
trees; fallen out of trees; driven around fallen trees and
planted trees. I've slept under trees, picnicked under trees, cried under trees and made love under them. And I've been in four terrifying storms where trees fell
all around me. It's the most eerie feeling in the world to be standing
outside on a relatively clear morning, no rain, with only the deafening
roar of wind in your ears, watching trees tumble over across the
lake. Not hearing them crash - just seeing them. It's like being the
star in a David Lynch movie.
Despite my tree PTSD, I continue to plant
trees around my home and marvel at those around me that are well over
100 ft. tall. Any one of them could reduce my house to matchsticks, and
take me out in the process. But I can't imagine not living among them.
There are worse ways to go.
