Celia planted this birch tree, maybe 8 or 9 years ago on the slope above the house. The soil here is hard compacted clay, not ideal for birch trees which are not native to this region. In the summer the soil is bone dry and hard as a rock, but she insisted it would grow here. By popular demand over the dry summer months I faithfully watered it thinking it would not make it. During the winter of 2019 during the big wet snow storm, known as "snowmageddon" a big madrone tree came down, roots and all smashing the birch tree. After a week of cutting up the madrone the birch tree was released and popped back up. Another big snow storm this last January bent the tree down again. Today I used rope and a come-along to bring the tree upright in hopes it will make it a few more years. This tree reminds me of Celia, a strong willed person, a survivor, who moved from southern California to Oregon in 1978 with her two young daughters, a car filled their personal belongings with only $600 to start a new life. She succeeded the best she could with jobs at OSU, the Oregon State Archives, teaching at Chemeketa Community College in Salem and working at the Olum Child Development Center at the U of O in Eugene until she took up with me when we married in October of 2000.
She was an inspiration and a shining light to many that knew her and always had a smile no matter the challenge.
Thanks for sharing about this very special birch tree and Celia! What kind of tree would represent you well?
ReplyDeleteThanks for telling us more about Celia. She certainly was like the birch tree. Your story also makes me think of a bluegrass song called "The White Oak on the Hill" by Ralph Stanley.
ReplyDeleteCelia is and will always be a special part of us. Thanks for reminding us by sharing this story.
ReplyDelete