Nope, this post has nothing to do with Christmas trees even though it's that time of year. I know that "Tis the season to be jolly," but jolly wasn't the emotion the other day. I've posted about this long ago, but let me give you a little back story to set the stage for this event.
My Dad graduated from USL in Lafayette. The University of Southwestern Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns. They've since changed the name to UL. Back when Dad graduated from college, they had the neatest thing ever at USL. As you walked across the stage to shake the University president's hand and receive your diploma, they would give you a coffee can with some dirt in it and a live oak seedling from one of the old live oaks on campus.
Being in his early 20's, Dad wasn't enthusiastic about this 'gift' or understand the importance of the memories of this little tree. He brought it home, gave it to his grandmother and forgot about it. Well, my great-grandmother lived right smack dab in the middle of the town of Kinder at the intersection of Highway 165 and US 190 right across from the police station. She planted it right in her yard. And it grew, and GREW, AND GREW.
Sixty years later, it is a big live oak tree, providing beauty and shade. My great-grandmother's home is long gone, but the tree remains. Kinder has changed a lot in 60 years. It boasts a couple more red lights, an overpass over the railroad tracks, a McDonald's and a casino now, but the tree remains the same standing in all it's stately glory, anchoring down the past, holding tightly to nostalgic memories while pointing confidently to the future.
Until last week...
No, the tree didn't get cut down. It's not ALL gone, but it got one heck of a hair cut. I remember being in elementary school and getting a haircut that I didn't like. I was embarrassed to go to school. I ran and hid - under a car, if I remember correctly. How long would it take for my haircut to grow out? Well, the old oak tree got a bad hair cut - a massacre, a butchering, you might say.
You see, there is a sign in the foreground and a larger outdoor advertising sign in the background. The tree had grown to block the view of the signs. A big miscommunication happened and someone had Dad's tree trimmed without his permission. Branches were stacked alongside Highway 165 four feet high. The tree trimmers gouged a big chunk out of the middle of the tree before passersby in town stopped the crew and asked if they had permission to be doing that since the tree is on private property. It caused quite a stir. Telephone calls were made and sincere apologies given, but the damage was done.
The tree is okay, and the bad haircut will eventually grow out - albeit a little longer than it takes for us. Oh, live oak tree, Oh, live oak tree, how lovely are your branches...
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