The One About the Tree

Hi friends.

I originally posted this as a Substack note and it’s super corny and just something I threw together sloppily but people seemed to get a kick out of it. And I guess we should take good news or a nice story wherever we can get it, so I decided I’d to send the story out to the wider audience. Also I had some additional thoughts about how it tied into writing (big surprise) so I thought I’d share those too.

This is the original post about the tree in front of my house:

There is a bus stop on the corner of my block that has no shade or shelter and people spend a lot of time getting blinded by the sun and the heat and it really sucks and I always noticed it. So I decided I needed to plant a tree in front of my house so people have some shade to stand under while they wait for the bus.

(I would have planted more than one tree but there is a sewer cap right in front of my house and there rules about how close you can plant a tree to that etc. So one tree it had to be.)

Anyway this tree had a growth spurt this year and now it is totally tall enough to provide shade and now there are always people standing in the shade waiting for the bus and I AM SO HAPPY WHEN I SEE IT. Like actual tangible physical results that are good for the environment and the neighborhood? Even if it is on a small scale, what a freaking joy!

In conclusion, plant more trees.

See? Corny as hell. But look at this tree:

You did it, buddy!

By the way when I said I planted a tree, as I reflected upon it later I realized what I really did was arrange for an organization that gives away free trees to come bring me one. (I believe it was Soul NOLA, and hey, I’m gonna donate to them today, do you want to join me?) And while I have planted lots of trees on my own, in my backyard, I think it is possible in this instance they maybe even dug in the dirt and planted the tree themselves. I probably just filled out an online form. (I hope you still like me.)

Anyway people seemed to like the story of this tree, and the more it simmered in my mind, a few thoughts developed about how it translates to writing and creative practices in general: