As I live out what is Shirley, the last half of my life, I pause for this.
I slowly take a deep breath. It remains among the best breaths I’ve ever breathed. I give thanks for this breath. I wish everybody could breathe so easy and free.
As I breathe, I remember things I’ve seen. Among the visions, I see trees.
Many trees. Great trees. Wise trees. Beckoning, inviting trees. Calm and friendly trees, usually. Some such as the great trees in Henry Cowell. Trees that have lived for centuries. All of this time they have taken in. Everything that blew through, they knew. I have taken great comfort in knowing with great certainty that, even with decades between us, they would always be there to stand with me. I never imagined I’d see the day I could rightly imagine outliving these great trees. I wish for great trees to live on indefinitely for fortunate travelers to feel and see.
I’ve traveled among trees such as these with so many friends with whom I’ve done so many things. Though I can’t begin to recall how many, or even take time to name a few, yet I still give thanks for time with you. Boring, frustrating, glorious, sublime, so many friends, so little time. I recall my friends and wonder who would not want to wander with friends such as these with whom I’ve wandered among so many trees. I wish for each and everybody to have friends such as these, or whatever friends it is that are just what they need.
I’ve lived among trees with beloved family. Trusting, loving, compassionate and kind family. So many times I need my family, being there to share a warm bed with me, and putting up with my company. Where would I be without them? Poorer for sure, in so may ways. Thanks for having me and giving me more than I can hope to repay. I wish everybody could have such a family as the one I love so, or at least be with the ones they love best through all times they see, high and low, and in between.
From among trees and other beings, I have been provided provisions enough for numerous feasts. So many yummy treats, hardy meals, late night snacks, and fruits for the taking. So many scents, tastes, and textures tempting satiation. I wish for delectable foods such as these to be there for everyone today and every tomorrow, and each, at the least, can eat what they need, maybe even with tastes that please, without facing hunger, begging or stealing.
It’s been my pleasure to shelter among trees. Dry overhead and clean below, comfortable rooms, indoor plumbing and electricity, I’ve been lucky to live so luxuriously. I wish all could have such a home, or at least an indoor place to rest their bones, relax in comfort, away from the heat, and out of the cold.
Yes, I’ve traveled far among trees. I’ve had many good days when I could move about freely. It felt so good to move so freely, proceeding in play till winding down weary. I wish everybody could move so freely, or at least without worry. I wish each of our needs were all seen and treated fairly, with equal care and accommodation for all, and equal opportunity for all skin colors, genders, abilities, consensual sexualities, classes, faiths, and nationalities.
I’ve learned in this life, and still believe, thanks to people and trees and other such things, that there is so much in my blessed life to give thanks and praises. Yet, there remains more to wish for the weary. All of that and so much more. More than we know, or may comprehend. The world is alluring, with so much to offer, though nothing’s for certain, or comes for free, and there is no forever in time as we know it.
You may notice I rarely vow. Forever is longer than time, after all. Hear now, I make this vow, here and now, and for as long as I breathe. I work to ensure that people can see trees as I have seen, or at least they can see what they want to see, as long as its not hurting you or me, or more trees than any of us need. Above all, all of those things wished for above, I join with those striving to achieve for each person alive, and our children, and theirs after them. Whatever the outlook, no matter how bleak, will not keep us from forward, as it seems the sum of these wishes is not too much to seek.
As I set about to contribute to this reality, I pray keep in mind that people among us are just human. Precious few are the days between us, though there’s enough of those days to see good ones and mean ones, days together and days in pieces, some days lost in the forest, and others with the trees. Some days we stumble among the trees. We learn so much, but all that we know is not everything. Yet, at last, I know this one thing with which I’ll leave. Despite disagreements, our hearts and minds align at times to move us towards achieving dreams you and I have seen.
Releasing my breath, I leave it be.
Thank you for hearing and seeing, and breathing with me.
Monday, Feb 3, 2020 · 2:58:05 AM +00:00 · greenandblue
Here’s something from John Steinbeck’s January, 1941 letter
It is cold and clear here now — the leaves all fallen from the trees and only the frogs are very happy. Great cheering sections of frogs singing all the time. The earth is moist and water is seeping out of the ground everywhere. So we go into this happy new year, knowing that our species has learned nothing, can, as a race, learn nothing — that the experience of ten thousand years has made no impression on the instincts of the million years that proceeded. Maybe you can find some vague theology that will give you hope. Not that I have lost any hope. All the goodness and the heroisms will rise up again, then be cut down again and rise up. It isn’t that the evil thing wins — it never will — ^but that it doesn’t die.