The Neighbors' Tree- One more thing gone. [View all]

The past few days I have been watching the removal of a very old tree from the yard directly across from ours. Now I have lived on the same land my grandfather purchased in 1904, since my parents brought me home from the hospital 62 years ago.

We had a kind of strained relationship with the original owners of the house across the road. Most of their 4 kids were older, so only 2 were still living there when I was born, they were okay, and so was the Dad. The Mom however was a nosey bitch, who was always spreading rumors, and most of the people on the road hated her especially my Mom. 🤣

Well anyway back to the tree. Their youngest one had learning issues and not many friends, and was picked on a lot, and his Mom was mean to him too. So he spent a lot of time at our house.

Well one day I look out and see their riding lawnmower up on two wheels kind of pointed up, leaning against their biggest tree. Don't know how it happened or was even possible, but it was true. I see Scott standing beside it scratching his head looking at it. I think he was about 14 then and in charge of mowing the lawn. It was a Saturday and my Dad was home from work. I yelled, "Dad, Scott just drove his lawnmower partially up a tree." My Dad said, "that's impossible," but came to look anyway. On seeing it with his own eyes, he said "shit, I better get over there before he accidentally hurts himself." So my Dad was able to get it off the tree and back on the ground. Don't no where Scott's parents were.

Well his parents passed away, and the house was sold as the kids including Scott had their own homes. The current owners had the tree cut down yesterday. I understand because it was worn out with huge limbs always crashing down in high winds, but it made me even more melancholy. One more piece of the world I have always known, gone forever. Goodbye tree. 😭👋