Dear Mike Fuggazi,
With a mighty thump, the final section of the old elm tree in my backyard went down.
It took three days to dismantle that tree. She probably was tallest in the block.
I knew your Park District crew doesn't work on private property. I am just thankful you will confer with homeowners. You and your people said the tree should go. I ended up hiring the John Boe crew, and they did a good job.
I didn't feel too bad because I knew the tree-let's call her Tillie-had been there since this house was built back in 1948. It was just a youngster when we moved here in 1957.
ADVERTISEMENT
As the years rolled by, Tillie the Tree took over. I sort of thought of her as ''the tree in the backyard,'' but I never paid much attention to her.
Until recently.
Tillie had grown higher than the house and was 36 inches in diameter. She was creaking. She was showing stress. And I had to let her go.
It was a long process, Mike. The men on the job were skillful and careful. But then, you know all about trees.
Tillie the Tree gave us shade in the summer. She harbored birds and provided places where squirrels could engage in gymnastics without having to go to Choice Fitness.
She also dropped oceans of leaves in September.
Now she is gone. I can see the blue sky to the west. I have a stump left and from it I hope to create a table. Instead of going to Florida in January, I will sit out there and soak up the rays of the sun in June.
I know the poet Joyce Kilmer once wrote, "Poems are made by fools like me, but only God can make a tree."
ADVERTISEMENT
I am looking forward to the tree celebration coming up here at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 17. That's when students from Discovery elementary school will plant 40 trees. And North Dakota State Forest Service will honor Grand Forks as 40th year Tree City USA.
I think we should go out there wearing something green.
Best wishes to you as you care for 40,000 trees along the berms of Grand Forks.
Your friend on Cottonwood Street, Marilyn Hagerty.
