I Planted Four Trees Today…by Robert M. Katzman
May 14, 2019
I planted 4 trees today.
I drove far away to a lovely rural nursery and the prices were tiny compared to near me.
Amber, Lisa and Kaitlan helped me with the transaction and with loading my old van.
The van needed to be jump-started because I haven’t used it all winter.
My driving forever cured the van’s sad battery.
My old body is inconceivably tired.
So tired I can’t tell how tired I am.
On a scale of 1 to 10, how tired am I?
42
The trees surround Joy’s eventually towering Blazing Autumn Maple.
They are miniature Flaminco Willow and Summer Wine trees, which will serve as a necklace.
As they grow, they will create a contemplative enclosed space where a person can stand or sit surounded by delicate beauty and shade.
There are now five small trees.
The first one I planted last year as a test is named after my Lithuanian Grandmother Rose.
It is flourishing.
The four new trees are a lot closer to Joy’s Maple.
They are named Lisa, David, Rachel and Sarah, after our four children.
Lisa and Rachel are deep purple wine-colored.
David and Sarah are a delicate green.
So now there’s a little family of trees dedicated to lovely people I treasure.
There is no tree named Bob.
I don’t think a tree should be named Bob.
There may even be laws against naming a tree Bob.
In any event, a person shouldn’t plant a tree to remember themselves.
There is enough of my heart in all six trees to satisfy me, and that’s enough.
Tomorrow they will all get soaked in water.
Thursday a lot of rain is coming.
Good timing.
I can’t do all this stuff by myself, y’know.
Planting a tree is a way of caring about all the tomorrows, whether I am here to experience them, or not.
Planting a tree is an offering of beauty to people I will never meet.
Planting a tree does so much good for the air, birds, butterflies, and shelters the quiet groundcover plants beneath its trunk from sun that is too much for them.
Planting a tree does so much for me, the pleasure is in the giving.
The caring.
It is a silent message of love from me to the Earth.
***********************
Publishing News!
Bob Katzmans tw’o new true Chicago books are now for sale, from him!
Vol. One: A Savage Heart and Vol. Two: Fighting Words
Gritty, violent, friendship, classic American entrepreneurship love, death, heartbreak and the real dirt about surviving in a completely corrupt major city under the Chicago Machine. More history and about one man’s life than a person may imagine.
Please visit my new website: http://www.dontgoquietlypress.com
If a person doesn’t want to use PayPaI, I also have a PO Box & I ship anywhere in America.
Send me a money order with your return and contact info.
I will get your books to you within ten days.
Here’s complete information on how to buy my books:
Vol 1: A Savage Heart and Vol. 2: Fighting Words
My books weigh almost 2 pounds each, with about 525 pages each and there are a total together of 79 stories and story/poems.
Robert M. Katzman
Don’t Go Quietly Press
PO Box 44287
Racine, Wis. 53404-9998 (262)752-3333, 8AM–7PM
Books cost $29.95 each, plus shipping
For: (1)$3.95; (2)$5.95; (3)$7.95; (4)$8.95 (5)$9.95;(6) $10.95
(7) $11.95; (8) $12.95; (9)$13.95 (10)$15.95 (15)$19.95
I am also for hire if anyone wants me to read my work and answer questions in the Chicago/Milwaukee area. Schools should call me for quantity discounts for 30 or more books. Also: businesses, bookstores, private organizations or churches and so on.