Surviving Katrina
by Bradley
Let me introduce myself. My name is Bradley and I am John's Bradford pear tree. My parents aren't very original. Do you know how many Bradford pear trees are named Bradley?
Anyway, I am writing from my branch office, get it, branch office? John asked me to tell my story about Hurricane Katrina last August and he is allowing me to post the story on his blog. I promised him I wouldn't do anything shady. Get it, shady?
I may be joking around now, but last August 29th I was shaking like a leaf. Even my leaves were shaking like a leaf. I had seen some wind before, but this wasn't just a couple of strong gusts, it was serious.
I am a fairly young tree and I was lucky enough to be sheltered by some other trees, so I survived. However, early Monday morning one of my friends, Stick, couldn't hold on and he broke off and fell. It was a terrible sound.
I looked over and saw him falling my way. I closed my eyes and braced myself. I felt pain and heard a huge thud as Stick hit the ground. I was surrounded by the remains of Stick and when he fell, he took a couple of my branches with him. It really hurt, but the wounds were not fatal.
Here are a few thumbnails of what it looked like after Stick fell on me. Click the photos to see a larger version, but then you probably already know that.
It was a terrible time for a tree in those days. From where I stood, all I could see were fallen friends and the ones left standing were injured - me included. The worst of it was that awful sound of chainsaws. Oh that awful sound, I don’t suppose I will ever forget it.
John used a chainsaw himself to cut Stick into pieces and haul him off. I hated to see Stick chopped up like that, but it was too late for him and it had to be done if were going to thrive. It is hard to imagine how I got through those days, but things are better now.
Here are two thumbnails of the damage closer up. One is with my friend Bear. Bear is so nice, he even gives me water every now and then, but it tastes a bit acidic.
Life sure can throw things at you, but if you have strong roots you have a good chance of surviving, but life is much more than surviving. Life is about living and that is what I intend to do. I may be damaged, but the rest of me is going to grow toward the heavens. My green foliage is going to make a beautiful contrast with the blue sky. Birds will take up refuge in my branches and I will block the sun on those hot afternoons when John needs to rest after working in the yard.
This spring I feel those feelings again from the tip of my roots to the end of my branches. I am blooming and I am alive. I hope you are blooming too, life is too short to dwell on past tragedies, we only have this moment so enjoy it.
Yours truly
Bradley