Friday, February 19, 2010

Reagan Generation Tree

If you follow my Healing Morning Facebook Fan Page, or if you've been subscribed to my Healing Morning blog for a while, you'll recognize the photo image here.  It is a view from beneath the sprawling limbs of a huge elm tree on my Grandpa Reagan's property. 

To give you a better perspective of the sheer size of this tree, here is another image.  Forgive the darkness; both photos were taken at twilight.  I was struck by the raw beauty of the barren limbs, stark against the wild, winter sky.

Why is this tree the focus of a blog post?  You see a photo of the land where I was raised, for one thing.  You also see a tree which quietly grew from what my Mother describes as being a small sapling in the field when she and her siblings were young to a truly grand presence.  She is one of nine children who played in the same field where I and my brother, sister and 27 cousins played.  That elm tree, to my way of thinking, raised two generations of Reagan children.  It was the silent sentinel of our childhood years, faithfully kept whispered secrets, harbored grandiose dreams, stood protectively, arms outstretched over afternoon naps, watched us grow into adolescence and witnessed the majority of us marry and have children of our own.

When I was wee, I used to go up to the hayloft of my Grandpa's barn to talk to God.  I just knew God was there, up in the vast space of the hayloft where it was quiet and still, and smelled sweetly of fresh hay in summer months.  Then I learned that snakes and other critters liked the hayloft.  This helpful information convinced me to transplant my talking to God spot to the elm tree.  It was huge, after all, limbs outstretched in a majestic umbrella, sheltering us in summer months to play, dream, climb way up high and practically touch the sky.  It made perfect sense to me that God would love the elm tree as much as I did, and would visit with me there.  Of course, God/Universe is anywhere you choose to look, and I can easily see that Presence in the sheer beauty of that old tree.

At one point in the mid-1970's, the elm tree was struck by lightning and split down the center.  For a time, there was debate as to whether my Grandpa would cut the elm tree down.  Of course, all of the children in the family pleaded for this not to happen, as it was our primary recreation spot and the best climbing tree on the property.  After a time, the tree, amazingly, began to heal itself.  I am of the opinion that this healing took place as much from fervent children's prayers, crossed fingers, sincere applications of Band-Aids and many loving tree hugs, as it did from Nature weaving the sections of the tree back together. The scar remained from the lightning strike, the tree took on the appearance of two separate trunks melded together at the base and continued to stand strong for over 30 more years.  At its most healthy years, it required at least 4 adults, arms outstretched and linked hand-in-hand to circle the vast width of the tree trunk, it was that large.

I continued to visit the elm tree, even after I moved away from home, making it a point to walk out through the field and spend time there.  I always thought that after all the children grew up that the elm tree had to be lonely for the sound of laughter, for the feeling of small feet climbing its limbs, for the exhuberant, loving embraces we all bestowed upon it.  I never left Tennessee without stopping to visit the tree, and bestowing a hug, having a conversation with it and with God, before feeling all was truly right in my world. 

A couple of years ago, we had an unusually rainy year following a long period of drought.  There were many storms with high winds that swept across the side of the ridge where our property, and the elm tree, are located.  I stopped by for a visit late one afternoon and asked my Mom to walk out to the field to see the elm tree.  Reaching the edge of the field, we stopped dead in horror - half of the elm tree had fallen.  Apparently the sheer weight of its large limbs had proven too heavy for the old lightning scar to bear and the lower section of the trunk split free and fell.  The remaining section was still upright, but according to my Uncle who now owns the property, there are plans to cut it down and clear the property.  I admit, without an ounce of embarrassment, that I stood there and cried.  I walked up to the still standing section of my dear old friend and once again spread my arms out for a loving embrace.

Resting my cheek against the smooth bark, I closed my eyes and said a prayer.  I cried some more, and cannot lie - my heart just ached as I leaned against this most faithful of childhood companions.  The fanciful part of my heart wonders and thinks that perhaps the elm tree grew saddened and lonely for company over the years.  With no children to play and climb all over it, no laughter to absorb, no wee arms embracing it with love, maybe the elm tree decided it was time to let go. 

It is my dear hope that I will be able to find some skilled artisan who can take some of the fallen tree trunk and create a piece of furniture, or decorative art, so that I may always have a piece of my childhood protector with me.  The other half of the tree still stands strong in the field, and I continue to visit and say Hello each time I go home.  The time is drawing near when that field will be empty of the all encompassing, mighty presence of that massive elm tree, and that will be a sad day to witness. 

For now, I have written a loving tribute to this old friend.  I cannot stand silently and leave the world wiped clean of the existence of such a beautiful work of God and nature - I felt driven to capture the images here and write the words.  We were raised well by that faithful presence, we Reagan children, and I daresay there is not a single one of us who will be left untouched by the passing of that sheltering, peaceful beauty.  It is our Reagan Generation Tree.  Thankfully, it has been captured in endless photographs.  It is also safe in each of our memories.  To the best of my calculations, it has lived close to 100 years.  And now, you, my readers, can finally understand why my blog posts are hallmarked with the image of the bare branches of this graceful tree, silhouetted against the evening winter sky. 

When you see that image, you see something so dear to my heart that I chose it to represent Healing Morning.  The energy of that old elm tree has always brought me to a powerful place of healing, peace and welcome, and that is the energy I hope is conveyed with this blog.  My blog design is due to change in the coming weeks, but you will always find the image of this elm tree somewhere in connection to my writing.  It is as intrinsically a part of me as my writing and I like the continuity it represents.

19 comments:

  1. What one cannot see with the eyes is often hidden in the heart and earth which lovingly hold the roots and dormant seeds. Perchance it has simply become more mobile in thee?

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  2. Ohh, Beth, how true and beautiful! I know that the very fact all us kids were so watched over by that wonderful presence has and always will stay with us for the rest of our lives. Every Reagan family reunion that occurs (and we have many), memories of climbing The Tree are shared.

    And I love the thought that I take that presence with me and project it - this is the very reason I chose Healing Morning as the name of my blog. I've been told my whole life that I exude a sense of healing peacefulness, and that's why I chose the photo of the elm tree as my blog image. Now you point out that this is within me and I am full of smiles at the recognition factor!

    Your words & thoughts warm me deeply, my friend!

    ~ Dawn

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  3. Awesome, Awesome post! Thank you for sharing this Dawn. I truly feel privileged to know the story.
    Thank you!

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  4. Brad, thank you for visiting, reading & leaving a comment! This is such a deeply personal story that I wondered if it would just not strike a common chord with readers. I'm happy to know I conveyed the emotions in a manner that were universal. This is a story that I've wanted to give voice to for a while, so I'm glad I did it & glad it is speaking eloquently.

    ~ Dawn

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  5. Hi Dawn, thank you for sharing your story. What a magnificent tree and it has been surrounded by love, trust, happiness and friendship.The energy that trees give out is truely Awesome! Today we went for a walk on our property as we have a small woodland area that I call the faerie glade. It has the most beautiful peaceful and magickal energy. I love so.Photos will soon be presented in a slide show on my sites, so will let you know.

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  6. Julie, I agree, trees exude a beautiful energy. For those who have never hugged a tree, I warmly invite you to try it - it is a wonderful experience! My tree was and still is magickal and my formative years were shepherded by that presence. I love your faerie glade! We have an area in our woods at home that I've always called the Faerie Glen, definitely a special place tucked away. I look forward to your upcoming slide show! Thank you for visiting & commenting, my friend.

    ~ Dawn

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  7. oh dawnie, how this story behind you and your playmates/cousins enjoyed so many days underneath her limbs. i wanted to cry. i was so touched and so grateful that you wrote the legacy behind this photo. get a piece of furniture or take some part of it to hold on to forever. xxxooo janie

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  8. Dawn, you made me want to reach out and hug your beautiful tree and embrace it's healing powers for my own. And as always, with your words, you paint a portrait so real that I very nearly can.

    I can relate so much to the emotions that you describe, as I had a similar (although much smaller) tree at my grandmother's house. It is sadly gone now, but I too cried at its loss, but will never forget what it stood for.

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  9. Jane, I stopped by my Mom's today and visited the elm tree. You'd think that w/ half of it's trunk ripped and fallen down, the upper half would be dying, but so far it is still healthy. The fallen sections are large enough for several pieces of furniture to be made - I just need to find someone to do it for me. I'm putting the energy & the word out to friends & expect I'll connect w/ the right person at the right time. The deadwood has had ample time to dry and cure enough for a woodworker to be able to produce something beautiful. Stay tuned! I will absolutely make sure I have some tangible memory to keep. I loved your comment, about the legacy of the Reagan Tree. I think that's a fitting description of what I tried to write with this post. Love you, dear one.

    Bernadine, it makes me happy to know I am, indeed, painting the pictures in my mind's eye sufficiently with my words that you can visit with me! That is just the best compliment to receive!! I am happy that I took so many photographs of our tree over the years, in different seasons. I plan to scan them and have several enlarged, printed & framed. Yes, we do carry happy memories in our heart, but photographs matter too. I was glad I had these two on hand to illustrate this blog.

    I'm also happy that now everyone knows the story behind the Healing Morning image icon.

    Ladies, you both made my day with your lovely comments. Namaste' to you both!

    ~ Dawn

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  10. I liked your post today, and can identify easily with the nostalgic feelings which connect you to the tree. Especially since it was a memory of a place where you felt the peace of communing with God. I have a memory like that too, which involves a little cabin in the Big Horn Mountains near Story, Wyoming. My memory is the stream there--the fishing I did as a boy, and the sounds and smells of that wonderful place.

    Thanks for sharing!

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  11. Daron, your own special place and the memories you describe sound lovely - being out in nature, for me, is such a strong connection to God. Combine that with family, home, laughter and those feel-good, comfort memories and the thoughts are just guaranteed to make us smile! Thank you for stopping by and leaving me such a nice comment & your own memory to add to the happy thread.

    ~ Dawn

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  12. Morning scenery is beautiful scene...
    Thanks for the post...Memory Power

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  13. David, thank you for stopping by for a visit. :)

    ~ Dawn

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  14. What a wonderful story Dawn the true connection you have to that tree & therefore nature itself is something I wish more people had. I feel we've lost our connection to the earth as we've all moved to cities, etc.

    I wish you well with keeping a piece of this cherished memory.

    Hugs,

    Bill

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  15. Thank you Bill! Marty & I were talking online last night & he encouraged me to find an artisan to make something special as well. That is definitely in the works. It makes me happy that so many people were touched by this post, given how very close to my heart it is.

    ~ Dawn

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  16. Great story Dawn. Now I don't have to wonder any longer what that tree has to do with your blog name "Healing Morning." It all makes sense now. :)

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  17. Thank you, Anahid. I've had a lot of emails asking about the photo over the months that I've had this blog active, so I felt the time was right to share the story. Now the mystery is solved and I have a tribute to my childhood friend! I love it when you visit, as always. :)

    ~ Dawn

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  18. Loved this story, Dawn...nature can bring us such great joy...it's truly as if it were made to do so (which I believe it is)...it sure is a beautiful thing!

    This also kind of reminds me of The Giving Tree-- one of my favorite childhood stories :)

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  19. Michelle, thank you for visiting and leaving such a nice comment. I haven't ever read The Giving Tree, but that's a wonderful compliment to have this post be compared to one of your favorite childhood stories. Once spring months hit and flowers begin blooming, the field where my elm tree stands will be covered in daffodils and miniature grape hyacinths (mucaris) - absolutely beautiful to behold!

    ~ Dawn

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