Planting Trees
Last week we had an invitation to visit our
granddaughter Molly. It was her final
day of summer vacation. She attends a
small Lutheran school and classes were beginning the next day. It turned out to be a beautiful later summer
day – a lot of deep blue sky with a few puffy clouds and a comfortable, light, but steady breeze. Besides, you can’t
possibly turn down an invitation to play the final games of summer.
Our plan was to stay through the morning and stay for
lunch. After lunch, Molly’s younger brother
Danny would be ready for his nap. Anyway,
that was the plan. At this stage of life
experience, I appreciate that all life plans are subject to change.
The morning was a mixture. When we arrived, they were busy mixing up
some pumpkin muffins for Molly to bring to school and share with her
class. The muffins were a good lesson in
hospitality and practicality. Molly has
some food allergies, so mixing up a muffin recipe that she could eat without
problem assured that she would have a treat that she was able to eat. My role was taste-tester. It was a job that I took seriously; I ensured
that I ate enough muffins to have a valid sample size.
Next, it was time to watch the kids play with an
assortment of riding toys. Being kids,
they consider it fortunate that their driveway is long and wide, and it has a
pretty good slope down to the garage. I
cheered them on as they rode scooters, trikes, and bikes up and down the driveway,
occasionally providing a little push for Danny back up the slope.
There was time for some swinging. Molly has the swings figured out, so she can
go all by herself. Danny is just
figuring it out, as he’ll extend his legs straight out in front, but then leave
them locked in that position. It works
out better to push him. I thought I had
done quite a good and steady job of pushing, but later at lunch Danny told his
mom that I didn’t push him as high as dad.
After lunch, I had the opportunity to read a train
book, a farm machinery book, and a tractor book to Danny before his nap (See
any trends in his selections?) Molly and
Grandma also read some books while my daughter tried to settle Danny down for
his nap. I slipped out the patio door
and found a comfortable chair in the shade.
I noticed the seeds were falling from the tall basswood tree in their
backyard. The seeds, sometimes just one
or two, but with others a little cluster of pea-sized seeds attached to a
single, gracefully curved leaf. With
every puff of breeze several more broke free and came twirling down to the ground.
I watched them for just five or ten minutes because I
felt my eyelids getting quite heavy. “What’cha
doing, Grandpa?” Slightly startled but trying not to look it, I straightened myself
up in the chair a bit, opened my eyes and replied, “Planting trees?” I could tell that Molly looked doubtful. I stood up and walked over about ten feet
downwind of the basswood tree. I pointed
to all of the seeds that had helicoptered to that area of the lawn. I pointed out another one headed in our
direction. We watched it settle to the
ground with the rest. “Each one of those
little balls is a seed. It will grow into
a new basswood tree.” Molly’s eyes and
mouth smiled.
Funny, I thought to myself, how a morning of late summer
play gives me such an irresistible urge to plant some trees.
His Peace <><
Deacon Dan
Comments
Post a Comment