Lodgepole Log

Leave it to the forester. Bill asked me to take Willie and Debbie out to the double-trunked lodgepole tree in the west pasture this morning before they leave for the airport. He showed me a little yellow waterproof log book.

"Ask them to sign this and date it," he said. Bill has started a Lodgepole Society for the Lovestead. From this day forth and, in some cases, retroactively, all visitors to the Lovestead will be taken to the magnificent tree which stands by itself, epitomizing strength, resilience, and continuity in the midst its pasture. Once there, they can add their own comments to Bill's log book.

I asked if there were any entries yet. He said no. Instead, he's written a little introduction for all signers. With that in mind, I asked if I could be the first to sign.

Before handing over the book to my son and daughter-in-law, I'll make an entry:

July 2, 2006

A Sunday morning visit after the first night in our new home.
It's a lovely July day as I behold this giant tree, and simply say, 'Thank you, God,' for providing us this beautiful spot to live the rest of our lives.
From this day forth, this is the "God" tree.

Bill is starting a nice tradition with his little yellow book. We have a few folks who've already spent time here at the Lovestead, and we'll be inviting them back to take another trip out to the tree and to record their comments in the lodgepole log.

As the years pass, we hope the prominent pine continues to stand there proudly just inside the gate, reminding us of that famous Joyce Kilmer poem and keeping us in awe of Kilmer's famous line: poems are made by fools like me but only God can make a tree.

And, we know that Bill's log book will provide a valuable chronicle of many memorable visits from our friends and especially the beloved members of our own family tree.