I Only Read the Comics and the Obituaries

As children my sisters and I would play in the tree for hours. My buddies would come over and we'd still play in the tree. Every now and then when I get the urge to climb a tree I think back to the Grand Ol' Maple in front of my parent's home, easily the tallest tree on the block.

Rather, it was the tallest tree on the block. Today I stood in the GOM for the last time. I held a chain saw in one hand as I climbed up the ladder (which as I've discovered makes climbing ladders so much more exciting because you have to start the engine while still on the ground) With a few labored cuts at the odd angles I was given the last two large branches fell, each with a tremendous crack and a thud. However that was nothing compared to the trunk its self. It took the work of two chainsaws, two wrecking bars, and an axe to finally get that thing to topple. We still haven't moved it from where it fell, but I'm sure there is a crater in our lawn from the heavy piece of hardwood. It was a little shocking to see it come down so forcefully that it didn't even bounce, it just went down and embedded into the ground in an instant.

We still haven't decided as to what we want to do with the two and-a-half foot thick trunk, so feel welcome to give some seggestions. As for the GOM, it will be in our memories. After looking at the rings and trying to count them we figure the tree was at least 30 years old . . . we'll miss the Grand Ol' Maple . . .