The Trees of Missouri

The last few days have been very hot on the road. We are trying to be out by seven in the mornng so we can do our mileage before the afternoon bake begins. We now take all our breaks under the shade of trees. It's delightful.
And this morning sitting under a group of trees reminded of the most meaningful gift I received during my cancer treatment.
It was a chestnut.

My friend Tony told me this story: His favourite tree in his garden was a very old and very large chestnut tree. Several years ago the tree got sick-the chestnuts became misshapen and deformed. They had several tree experts come to the house and they all said the tree must be hewn. It was dying and better to chop it down so it wouldn’t come down in a storm. Tony resisted and found one tree specialist who said to kill the disease might mean killing the tree but he was willing to try if Tony understood. They went ahead and the tree seemed to get much worse during the following two years. But gradually during the third year it began to do better. He gave me a chestnut from that healing tree. I keep it on my night table and it reminds me of what I have lived through and what may come.

What a great gift. Thanks.

Anne