Many years ago, probably back in about 1994, Kenny and I had a trucking business. At that time he was working for Clarence Garcia in a small town named Paonia. To get to Paonia one needs to drive through the Black Canyon, which is near Gunnison. It was not any place I would want to drive through in the winter, that is for sure. The job was hauling gravel up to the BLM just out of Paonia. We owned a park model camper which Kenny stayed in during the week while he worked. I went a couple days every week because he got lonely.
The town of Paonia is a hippie heaven and there were quilt shops and lots of things for me to entertain myself with while he worked. He did tell me that cattle roamed free on the BLM and that there were lots of fruit trees that were loaded and fruit was free for the taking. Choke Cherry. Peaches. Apricot. I had no idea what a Choke Cherry was at the time and I did not like Apricots, so that was not a big draw for me. However, he did like Apricots and proceeded to bring me home a big bag of them and requested that I make Apricot jam. So when I came home that weekend, I gathered jars, sugar and all the fixings and make him Apricot jam. The pits I tossed in the dirt over the septic tank.
Imagine my surprise when two weeks later, a million Apricot pits turned into tiny little trees. Since winter was coming, I heeled them in and covered them with straw. They survived the cold winter in fine shape and the next Spring I gave everyone I knew all the Apricots they could plant. I planted 6 for myself which was exactly 6 more than I needed. Over the years 5 of them died and the one behind the house survived and flourished. It stood over the house as a memorial to our days in Paonia. I had to keep the branches cut because it would damage the roof. And then it got bores. It was time.
I called several tree service places, but no one returned my call. Then my friend, Kay told me about her tree man. Aaron Leal. She would have him call me. And he did. And 3 days later this was the scene in my back yard. 2 guys. One chain saw and no ladder. Craig and Tony made short work of that big Apricot tree
It was kind of sad to see the tree go and memories of how I got the seeds in the first place, kind of put a damper on my day, but that is what life is all about, isn't it? I kept a tiny seed that made a big tree that shaded the back of my house from the hot evening sun. Kenny is gone. The tree is gone. I am still here. I guess there is something to be said for the circle of life. It does go on, you know. Whether I like it or not, the sun will come up tomorrow. The tree will still be gone. The birds will find somewhere else to nest, and I still do not like Apricots.
The town of Paonia is a hippie heaven and there were quilt shops and lots of things for me to entertain myself with while he worked. He did tell me that cattle roamed free on the BLM and that there were lots of fruit trees that were loaded and fruit was free for the taking. Choke Cherry. Peaches. Apricot. I had no idea what a Choke Cherry was at the time and I did not like Apricots, so that was not a big draw for me. However, he did like Apricots and proceeded to bring me home a big bag of them and requested that I make Apricot jam. So when I came home that weekend, I gathered jars, sugar and all the fixings and make him Apricot jam. The pits I tossed in the dirt over the septic tank.
Imagine my surprise when two weeks later, a million Apricot pits turned into tiny little trees. Since winter was coming, I heeled them in and covered them with straw. They survived the cold winter in fine shape and the next Spring I gave everyone I knew all the Apricots they could plant. I planted 6 for myself which was exactly 6 more than I needed. Over the years 5 of them died and the one behind the house survived and flourished. It stood over the house as a memorial to our days in Paonia. I had to keep the branches cut because it would damage the roof. And then it got bores. It was time.
I called several tree service places, but no one returned my call. Then my friend, Kay told me about her tree man. Aaron Leal. She would have him call me. And he did. And 3 days later this was the scene in my back yard. 2 guys. One chain saw and no ladder. Craig and Tony made short work of that big Apricot tree
And then they were done.
And it was all thanks to this little card!
It was kind of sad to see the tree go and memories of how I got the seeds in the first place, kind of put a damper on my day, but that is what life is all about, isn't it? I kept a tiny seed that made a big tree that shaded the back of my house from the hot evening sun. Kenny is gone. The tree is gone. I am still here. I guess there is something to be said for the circle of life. It does go on, you know. Whether I like it or not, the sun will come up tomorrow. The tree will still be gone. The birds will find somewhere else to nest, and I still do not like Apricots.
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