Everything changes

We have been noticing how many trees have suffered from last year's drought - in the park, in our yard, in our neighborhood.... Some have been killed outright. Some dropped limbs in the storms we had this spring.

Earlier in the week we noted a huge oak in our block had died. It was at the edge of a yard and spread its branches across the entire street providing wonderful shade, a respite on a hot and sweaty walk. Only a few days after we noticed its demise the sawing started. They are almost finished taking it down, cutting it up and hauling it away.

A little old lady used to live in that house, although she has been gone for some years now. I remember noticing the thick cover of leaves on the grass one year. My sweet boy and I raked, knowing the lady was alone in the house. We gathered  them all up and hauled them away for compost. We had a few blisters and a sense of accomplishment, as well as a new friend.

The new neighbors visited as I gathered these images to share with the children. They are heartbroken (as are we) and plan to plant another tree to cover the nakedness of the house.

So our neighbor is gone, but we have another. The old tree is gone, but a new tree will grow.

And we will remember.

A few loads of limbs and trunk were hauled away earlier today.