The big tree

Remembering the importance of having a place outdoors that was our special place. Up in a big tree.

When I was a little girl, there was a row of six trees in our backyard that we strung a rope between. My brothers and I used to walk back and forth between them. We built a tree house in one, we had a secret hiding place in a hole in another one. In short, it was the place where we spent all our free time.

Among all of these, the tree on the end stood out. It had a curved branch big enough for two little girls to sit side by side. My friend Ginger would come over and the two of us would sit on that branch for hours, singing, laughing, telling stories... just being girls together. It was magical.