How Can You Compare The Beauty Of A Tree

Quite shocking.  I walked into my apartment when I got home from work to discover the huge red maple tree in front of my picture window GONE.  It had been chopped down and only a stump remains.  Fifteen years ago when I moved in I had a full view of Mt. Hood.  If you have ever seen Mt. Hood the beauty and splendor of the mountain is like no other and from my apartment window some times it would loom so large it felt as though I could reach out and touch it.  The owner of the apartment at the time kept the trees well manicured and trimmed each year.  When he sold the apartments ten years ago the new owners let the trees go wild.

 My view of Mt. Hood slowly disappeared over the years.  Except in Winter when some trees lose their leaves I get a glimpse.  About a year ago I told the owners I wanted the tree in front of my window PRUNED if possible because it had grown to cover my deck as well.  They told me they would look into it. All last winter and through the spring and summer  I thought they had forgotten all about it.  I had an affinity for the tree so I told myself that I had made my wishes known and to leave it be.   Whoa!!!  Can you imagine?   I had no idea they were going to completely chop it down.   I feel the loss of my friend the red maple that gave me the gift of pure beauty  peace, and joy that only a tree can give.

 I do not have a before picture with the tree in front of my window but this is my view with it chopped down today.   Mt Hood is directly behind the trees on the right.

I am sitting here typing now adjusting to my friend being gone.  Watching it slowly get dark and actually liking the view now.  It is quite active and yet because I sit up high off the street I feel it is my little window to the outside world.  When the tree was here I felt protected yet closed in.  Now I feel open and I like it.  Woody Allen said the reason he likes living in New York...  " I never go out.....I just like to know everything is right there should I ever want to."    For me I am such a hermit that I like to see activity and life going on outside around me, the traffic,  the runners, walkers, people going to and from work  and know they are there even if I do not go out to join them.

The view from my window tonight