Cottonwood Tree: RIP

My suspicions arose in early March, when I noticed the link fence that seemed to protect the magnificent old cottonwood tree (my very first post in this blog), had been ripped open. I remember thinking, why would someone do this? So, in some ways, I was prepared - unfortunately.

March 14, 2010. It was a Sunday, and I was driving down 51st Avenue, as usual. As I rounded the corner from 25th Street, I could see the scene up ahead. No graceful branches about to bloom. Nothing but a truck, a cherry-picker, a shredder and a saw mill sitting right in the middle the street. I screeched to a halt. Surprised at my anger, the three guys working said, 'Well, it was causing problems in the building - and has to be cut down'.

I stood in shock. They'd already taken the top branches and ground them up. They were working on the larger ones, and seemed annoyed anyone was questioning this.

I was so upset by the site. It's as if I'd witnessed a murder. The men were cavalier and dismissive. 'The rest of it will have to go another day. This thing is too big for one day's work'.

After looking at the pieces sitting there waiting for the shredder, I hurt all over. It just did not seem right. Was it REALLY causing a problem in that little cinderblock building? I did not know what the business was, but thought it was a recycling company, or a printing facility. The entrance was on Borden Ave, and I'd never seen the gates open to the front of the yard where the cinderblock building sat. Another day, I told myself.

That day was for mourning.

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