"I THINK that I shall never see..

A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in Summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree."...Joyce Kilmer

Remember this one? How many of us had to memorize this lovely little poem in school? It's only as I've grown older that I really appreciate the view through Kilmer's eyes. The magnificent old oak tree pictured here is across the street from me and can be seen from my living room window. A friend of mine had an arborist look at similar ones on her country property, and he said they were in the neighborhood of 245 years old. This one is probably close to 200 years old.

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Many ancient traditions and philosophies in every culture on earth espouse symbolic meanings for forests and trees. As the oak is the mightiest of trees, it symbolizes courage and strength. Socrates considered the oak as an oracle tree. The Druids ate the acorns of the oak to prepare for prophesying, and they also believed that the leaves contained the power to heal and renew strength.

One of the many perks of my new home is a troop of little boys, ages 6 to around 9 or 10 who live on this block. You can tell these boys are from homes full of love and encouragement. They are quick with a smile and a few words of conversation; and they are right at home anywhere in the neighborhood, traipsing from one yard to another, over fences, through front and back yards, chasing grasshoppers and cicadas to feed one's pet lizard, riding bicycles, and climbing the wonderful big old trees. Even giving a boost to the three-year-old little brother of one. I like to think the oak tree is empowering these future men, imparting some of its strength and wisdom and courage as they spend their time crawling amidst the ancient gnarled branches. I also feel as though any scrapes these little climbers suffer might quickly be healed by the leaves, as the Druids believed.

My friend Jane and her husband Joe recently bought themselves a new house. She and I still manage to get together once or twice a week for lunch or a shopping trip into Austin for things for both our new homes. Last week we were working the linen aisle at Tuesday Morning, when Jane motioned for me to listen to the Muzak being played. On cue, we both broke into a chorus of "Tweedly, Tweedly, Tweedly Dee.... I'm as happy as I can be!" Not too many people were close by, but those that were seemed to be slowly moving away from us!

JANE AND JOE

When he arrives home from work, Jane's husband now asks her if she has had lunch. He knows by now if we have eaten lunch together he may not get more than a cold sandwich for dinner! Jane stopped by for a "quick" lunch today. I had prepared a salad plate for us of Albacore tuna, stuffed avocado with cottage cheese and sunflower seeds on a bed of lettuce, fruit salad, and white tea with pomegranate juice. A healthy lunch -- right? It was the fresh baked French bread and oatmeal/raisin cookies from the deli that Jane brought with her that did us in. Upon arriving home, she called me and said, "Do you realize we ate for an entire hour??" Of course, that time included lots of good talk and laughter! After all, we go back 50 years now, and have lots to talk and laugh about!

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The cutie pie to the right is my granddaughter Ashlyn, who is thirteen years old. She has been designated the family archivist, and has done a fantastic job of learning to put all the family photos on their SmugMug internet site. I have been complaining for years that her mom doesn't send me

nearly enough current photographs, as she hasn't mastered the art of downloading them to her computer. Last school year Ashlyn and her brother Tanner were placed on an allowance. All their school lunches, purchases, and entertainment must come out of the allowance. When it runs out, there will not be any more money until the next "pay period". However, they were both allowed to do extra chores for bonus money. Both jumped on the bandwagon in anticipation of the extra bucks! Cagey Ashlyn is employed now, and has worked diligently in putting lots of family albums on the photo site so this Grandmother can pick and choose when I need a good picture of them. These two were taken on their Florida vacation a week ago! Hot off the press, as they say! What a beautiful place to vacation, too.

Ashlyn is so much more than a pretty face and a budding entrepreneur. I recently asked her mom to fill me in on some of her accomplishments this past year. Ashlyn is our social butterfly, as was her mother Carajean when she was growing up... to the chagrin of some of her teachers! Carajean's response to me was as follows:

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"You asked about Ash. She has been socializing 24/7 ALL summer! She cleans her room, does her laundry, practices violin (without fuss), and asks for extra chores for money. This of course, allows her to go and do with many friends. I don't know all of their names. I have never known anyone so social. She is very trustworthy with high morals...just worried about everyone else! I do have to mention that she was Concert Master at their summer music camp, and also performed as first violinist in an 'Honors Trio' ensemble as well. Meaning...she is the best in Amarillo's Middle Schools. Oh yeah....I'm proud! But, she really loves volleyball more."

Ashlyn will be in her second year (I believe it will be 8th grade) at the same academy her big sis Audrey attended and graduated from as Valedictorian. Ashlyn got a good start last year, and was an honor student, following in her big sister's footsteps both academically and musically. WAY TO GO, ASH!

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I have to tell a funny story on my daughter. This past year she joined her oldest and youngest children in becoming a vegetarian. Not just a vegetarian, but a vegan. Carajean is an excellent cook, and her hubby Branch will eat anything she puts in front of him. Therefore, at home at least, he is also vegan. Ashlyn is the only real holdout, but she will go along with most of the vegan meals. Now, every summer Carrie's dad and his family spend at least one vacation somewhere with them. This is usually a huge crowd... I'm even there sometime, but not this year.

Bob is her dad, and we all agree he is a great cook! However, the vegetarians in the family are throwing him for a loop lately when it comes to preparing meals. He usually, to the delight of all the women, is happy to do most if not all of the cooking. Now Carajean never does anything halfway, and she is very passionate when she is onto a new course. She told me she walked into the kitchen on vacation in Galveston and saw her dad frying bacon and eggs. She said she told him, "Ooohh, Dad, that's a real no, no!" He turned to her, put his hands on his hips, and said, "Carajean! Just how long do you want to live, anyway??" I'm sure she just cracked up on that one!

(Honey and Papaw Bob )

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MAKE NEW FRIENDS, BUT KEEP THE OLD

I have moved around quite a few times in my life, and made some wonderful friends along the way. I'd like to do brief profiles of some of them from time to time. I think you will find I have met some very interesting characters.. some you may even recognize. The first is someone I met 21 years ago this summer at Unity of Denton, John Nance Garner, V, affectionately known as Jack. If the name is familiar, it's because Jack's great-uncle, John Nance Garner, IV was Franklin Roosevelt's first vice-president.

Jack is a man small in stature with a great big booming voice. He has been an actor in community theater for most of his adult life, and is a well-known fixture in the Denton Community Theater. That wonderful voice of his was utilized as a disk jockey for a small radio station on an Oklahoma mountaintop for many years before moving to Denton in the late 80s. We became friends almost immediately, having found we have a lot in common. (He and I commiserated on the number of failed marriages we both suffered!) Jack was even a charismatic preacher for a short time. He has been known to get into the "pulpit" and "preach" again when something pushes his buttons! Most recently, he has kept the Denton Record-Chronicle informed of his well-versed political opinions on the Letters to the Editor page. The softer side of his vocal abilities has been as a frequent lay leader at church; and no one who has ever heard his rendition of "Conrad's Christmas", an annual performance by him at Unity, will ever forget the emotions he is able to command from an audience.

As a DJ on that mountaintop, Jack first discovered he had an artistic ability. He whiled away the lonely midnight shifts making rag rugs. Many years later, when he was in his mid-50s, he took a watercolor class, and lo and behold! A great talent emerged. Jack now does beautiful pastel portraits that often sell for hundreds of dollars, and have won many prizes in art shows. A couple of them are displayed here, painted from photographs Jack took on the streets of New Orleans. His musicians are a real favorite of mine. If you are interested, let me know and I can give you more details of these, including sizes and prices.

"Fiddler in the Cold"

"Morning Coffee"
Jack and I have shared a lot in the past 21 years. We've been there for each other at the losses of good friends and family members. And he was with me when we went to see my first grandchild as he came home from the hospital! We shared lots of tears and laughter. And stayed in touch as I wandered around the last seven years. Ask him sometime about cutting the ping pong balls and putting them over our eyeballs to try to assist us in meditation! And getting caught doing this by my son's girlfriend, who couldn't wait to "tell on us", as she thought we were losing our minds!

The latest from Jack is that he is a school bus monitor. At 71, and with his slight build, that can be a challenge. Jack told me of one of the "boys" who rides his bus who is 6'5" and weighs over 350 pounds. Jack asked the driver what happens if this kid "loses it", as some are apt to do. The driver said to just sing "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" to calm him down. "Does that work?" asked Jack. "I don't know, I've never had to try it!" was his response! Jack said he spent the weekend learning the words to "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star"! Good luck, Jack.

I'm going to close with this photo of my youngest grandchild, Kelly, age 3 and a half. She is showing Grandmommy her latest accomplishment -- how to use the computer. Really!


May your life be full of loving family, good friends, and a big oak tree!

Peace and love,
Marilyn