One Plastic Bag at a Time

Life is full of trouble and travails.

I can only imagine what it is like for a tree here in Brooklyn (where yes, indeed, we have one - more than one as a matter of fact, but that's not the point here).

You're a personal lavoratory for dogs of all shapes and sizes. You're home to rodents of all shapes and sizes. You've got all kinds of birds making their homes in your limbs.

You've got wires running amongst your branches, and the occasional freak weather snaps off your limbs. I have even seen a tree or two that's been struck by lightning.

On top of all that, you're a public notice board for every flavor of garage sale under the sun (moving sale, block sale, spring cleaning sale), for anyone looking for a job and to warn anyone who not to even THINK about blocking the driveway of the house you so thoughtfully shade.

Even the City uses you to do it's bidding, acting as a signpost.

For those of you who are not natives, to give you a point of reference, the City put these signs up sometime in the late 1970's (if I'm wrong about the date, feel free to correct me).

Somehow we all find a way to survive, to bounce back and go on no matter what happens. I can only hope I have the resilience of this tree.