On climbing trees. And Falling. And pains in the behind.
Raleigh, North Carolina | © Christy Hydeck
"It is difficult to realize how great a part of all that is cheerful and delightful in the recollections of our own life is associated with trees."-Wilson Flagg
Once upon a time I was a fearless lil' girl who loved climbing trees; a lil' girl utterly convinced that the higher I climbed, the closer to heaven I'd be. I was a determined lil' girl who fully intended to reach it.
Unfortunately for moi, the higher the climb... the farther the fall.
Sometimes, that fall even lands your arse square upon another branch (and yes, it's as painful as it sounds). In all of my glorious childhood wisdom, I decided instead of telling my mother (i.e. i didn't want to get in trouble) that I would tend to the wound myself. Dont'cha know, I tried to stop the bleeding with leaves? Leaves! What on e a r t h was I thinking? As you can imagine, that didn't work out very well.
-------> Let's have a quick moment of silence honoring the fact I have indeed grown wiser.
My mother (and those darn eyes she had in the back of her head) quickly became the wiser and proceeded to clean that wound with all of the ungodly painful chemicals mothers use to do that sort of thing. I kicked, I screamed, I threw a tantrum that most likely signaled the coming of the apocalypse and I got to take a not-so-freakin-fun trip to the emergency room for some very special stitches on my behind. Sitting was painful. Allow me to reiterate that for effect - sitting on my all-stitched-up-behind was so. incredibly.painful.
-------> Let's have a quick moment of silence for the extreme pain I briefly endured in the 4th grade.
I have not climbed a tree since.
I have had picnics under the shelter of their branches. I have spent hours reading books while gazing up at them. I photograph them. I get uncharacteristically giddy as I walk through them. I study them, paint them, and sketch them. I curse the plethora of soft pine trees within my yard daily. I have picked up their fallen leaves and bark to use within my art. I make up happy-little-nonsensical songs about them and sing wildly out of tune when no one is listening.
However, I absolutely do not climb them; and that's kind of a shame.
Manassas National Battlefield Park | Civil War Site | Manassas, Virginia | © Christy Hydeck
"If you would know strength and patience, welcome the company of trees." ~Hal Borland
Why am I recalling this today? I'm not quite sure exactly. There has got to be a parable in the making here folks. I do know, that I have been making a point to practice bravery these days and it seems like I am continually reminding myself that falling is OK. It's probably even necessary.
Ya hear that Chrysti? Falling is A-OK.
I think I need to climb a tree again, but not before I stop publicly typing little notes to myself as I did above.
Really. there are far worse pains-in-my-tush these days then a couple of measly stitches. Why should fear have the power to dictate anything we I do?
Chrysti
