Up a Cherry Tree

There is a wonderful Cherry Tree in our front yard. It's not an especially old tree, but it has a beautiful shape and the Tree provides so much to so many. Children climb to their castles in the sky through the Tree's Branches. Birds find shelter amongst the Leaves. Hubby & I enjoy the shade on warm summer afternoons. And we all enjoy the cherries the Tree provides. 

The Tree is happy with our (not) so little family living in its house. (The previous owner had threatened to cut it down to park his camper in the spot the Tree occupies.) It presented us with a beautiful display of blossoms this past Spring. And those blossoms rapidly became an abundance of cherries. 

The Children enjoyed picking the tart but delectable red gems from the lower branches - proudly declaring they were the 'sweetest treats' in the world. The local Robin family raised their young on the fruit found in the upper branches. And as for the cherries in between? Well, they were picked and frozen for future pies and turnovers. Over 15 gallons in all. The Cherry Tree was most generous.

But cherries weren't the only gift from the Tree. A chance to meet a slice of Humanity was given. I spent quite a bit of time up on a ladder or in the branches of the Cherry Tree and this sight proved to be either a source of conversation or something to be avoided by the people who happened to be passing by. 
There was the young man who hurried down the street deep in thought. He was oblivious to my presence. I dared not speak for fear of startling him. Do I walk like that? Oblivious to Life's little pleasures? 

The nice older couple from three doors down who always went to lunch at the same time every day and who always smiled and waved as they drove by; the mailman who always smiled and had a friendly word; and the fellow remodeling the house across the street all brought a sense of small town America to this section of the Big City.  And we would all talk of the weather, the neighborood and other various goings-ons but the conversation would always turn to the Tree and its generosity. 
But the most memorable person to stop and admire the Tree was a Vet who spent the good part of a morning helping harvest fruit and telling his story. He was a reminder that we all have a story to tell if only we have someone to listen. 
And I want to Thank You for listening to this little bit of my story.