The Live Oak

When I was a child, maybe somewhere around the age of seven to twelve, I was always in trouble about climbing trees. I liked to climb to the top of a wild persimmon and sway with the wind. But there was this one tree... It was a huge live oak, it was as big as a small house. Anyone thats ever seen one knows what I'm talking about. The limbs were big and the outer part grew close to the ground. With a little pulling and a slight leap you were on a limb. That was our favorite play place. It wasn't far from where my grandparents lived at that time. We climbed all over that tree. It was our tree house on many occasions. Although no one had ever built an actual tree house there. My cousins, my brother and I would always wind up there when we visited my grandparents. Many times we played Tarzan there, or climbed some mountain. It was also on the way to the bus stop and on the way home from school we could never pass that tree without exploring it again. I am sure our parents knew we were there and we were always warned about climbing trees. They said we might fall out and get hurt. But we never did! I guess our guardian angel was kept busy watching over us. Not long ago I went back to that tree and showed it too my children, both girls. They weren't impressed! But I could look around at the limbs and relive old memories. I was tempted to climb it one more time. I knew if I did my kids would warn me I might fall out and get hurt. Besides I am older now and I can see the danger we were warned about. Still, old memories die hard and you never forget the joy of childhood.

hugs, neon_sapphire