It is always nice to have a new subscriber, but it is especially cool to find one from a far away land. I believe it helps to remind us just how similar we are. There are jobs we hate to do and then find out how worthwhile they were. There are times we do not realize how much we miss our relatives until we see them again.
If i cannot travel, at least I can read about other places and people. Sanchari is in Delhi, and blogging at, http://sancharib.wordpress.com/. If you scroll down her posts, you will see some great photos of the Jaisalmer Fort.
But, what really brought me home was her November post on cutting down the Mango tree which was just one year older than she is.
When I was growing up, my side yard had a large weeping willow tree. I could crawl under the branches and have an instant play house/fort/whatever I wanted. Many a day was spent eating lunch and playing under that tree. So, when mom and dad moved to a subdivision, they took a start with them and grew a new weeping willow in the backyard.
When I divorced, I moved back home again with my daughters. Super teacher daughter was in kindergarten and was delighted to live with a weeping willow in her very own backyard. It was she now who spent hours eating cookies or sandwiches and playing dolls under her grandparents tree. That is, until one day years later when lightning split the tree and it was taken down.
We had moved out a couple of years before this, but daughter always ran to visit her tree. We did not think to warn her as we got settled in for our visit, until she came back in the house in tears. Her beloved tree was gone.
She never ate mangoes from it but that tree was a wonderful memory for my daughter, as well as Sanchari’s Mango tree was for her.
Dear Sheryl,
I cannot tell you how good it felt to see this post. To have somebody (from across the globe, as you said) read your posts and write about them on their own blog…feels simply great. Thank you for bringing a smile to my face
It’s nice to know my account about my mango tree struck a chord with you. And I completely understand what your willow tree must have meant to you and to your daughter. Though we don’t have too many willow trees here in India, I fell in love with them the first time I saw a picture of them. I wish I could have seen your tree.
Thank you again, and glad you liked my photographs of the Jaisalmer Fort!
Sanchari, you are very welcome. I enjoy your blog.