You know when I was a young lad growing up in Dargan, I had a fondness for the woods and nearby trees of all kinds.
When my grandmother Gen was looking for me, I would often be with the trees.
My grandma lived in those nearby woods all her life. She never took a vacation and stayed at home while raising me and my cousin Gary (aka Peewee).
Grandma was most kind and giving.
I would often play under the trees and climb to a higher branch just to get a better view like the many birds I saw there who paused to admire the countryside.
Standing under a young sampling and shaking it after a rain storm was a real treat for me; I loved the rain drops that bounced off of my head.
Recently, I had the occasion to read ‘The Giving Tree’ an American children’s book, gifted to me by my friend Sharon.
This book was written by Shel Silverstein in 1964 and had a wide distribution in many different languages.
As I read this book, I thought about the mentioned ‘giving tree’ and my younger self growing up in Dargan.
It is a fine story of a parent and child. I could relate to the story and its message.
May I share it with you? Silverstein tells his story.
‘Once upon a time there was an apple tree and she loved a little boy who would come by every day’.
The boy would gather her leaves and run and play.
He would climb up her trunk and swing from her branches and eat apples.
The boy would sleep under her shade.
And the tree was happy.
But the boy grew older and the tree was often alone.
The boy wanted to buy things and had no money. So, the tree gave him some apples to sell and the boy had some money but stayed away for a while before returning.
And the tree said “Come Boy, climb up my trunk.”
But the boy said I’m too busy to climb trees, I want a house to keep warm and a wife and children; can you give me a house? asked the boy.
I have no house, said the tree, but you can cut off my branches and build a house; then you will be happy.
So, the boy cut off the branches and carried them away to build a house.
And the tree was happy.
But the boy stayed away for a long while again and then returned.
The tree said to him ‘come and play.’
But the boy replied “I am too old and sad to play; I want a boat to take me far away from here. Can you give me a boat?”
Cut down my trunk and make a boat, said the tree. Then you can be happy and sail away.
So, the boy cut down the trunk, made a boat, and sailed away. And much later when he returned, the tree said, “I am sorry boy but I have nothing left to give you.
Author Silverstein’s story has touched the very core of a parent raising a child and trying to make him happy with all his requests to the point that her life was almost over.
And at the end of the story, the tree became old and the boy too. I have nothing else to give you said the tree to the boy; I am just an old stump, I am sorry.
My Grandmother was a little like that tree, I thought. She didn’t have very much to give and even less after my grandpa died and left her alone to raise two young boys.
But she gave us so much to enjoy.
Grandma Gen clothed us; fed us; patched us up when we had a bruise or cut, kept us warm in the winter time while tending the Home Comfort stove; stayed up with us when we were sick, bought us Christmas presents, and kept us safe as we grew up in the woods.
She made sure both Pee Wee and I made our way through school and graduated, and we both ended up in the army, and now she was alone in her house.
Grandma Gen gave us everything she could ~ she was much like that ‘giving tree’ to that young boy.
Kids don’t often enough appreciate that ‘giving’ person who raises them along this path of life.
Too many kids abandon those who cared for them as their candle’s light goes out.
Grandma Gen died on Feb. 5th, 1978, in my house and both Pee Wee and I were very lucky to have her; she was most ‘giving.’
RIP Grandma, you did well.
