Recently, a friend wrote to me, "...forgive me, but, I gathered from your writing that you may be sad." Her message was incredibly kind; I treasure it. And she is correct. I am sad.
I am also quite happy.
For a few years, I had stopped feeling, even unable to appreciate my son's constant laughter, and for a sentimental person like me, I was aware of the loss. I just couldn't feel it. So, I appreciate being able to feel sadness. And I enjoy feeling happy and smiling and laughing with my son when he tells a joke that makes sense to a three year old.
Which brings me to tree swings and tree houses. Somehow, a tree swing is both relaxing and exciting. It provides isolation or builds a community. A tree swing always seems to meet a person's needs, and the swing almost always leaves a person feeling happy. I enjoy watching the excitement of children and adults as they connect with nature, as they calculate whether the rope will hold their weight, and whether they will crash into the nearby tree or branch. Tree swings are much more interesting than playground swings.
Tree swings and tree houses are a place to gather, for old and young. They are a place to learn cooperation. They are a place to experience happiness. We could use more of these places.
Tree houses are mythical. When I was 8, we played in the fig trees at the end of the block. We found boards from the new home developments and hammered 2x4's into the trees, hoping that we would create something more unique than the new track homes that were replacing the fig orchards. Even now, I think that we did. I miss our happy fig tree houses, and I miss the fig orchards. Such happy memories.
tree swing - Images by bryan farley
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