A letter to my mother

I'm at my mom's house this weekend, we're doing Mother's Day a week later because she doesn't like crowds. She doesn't always listen to me when I urge her to do things so I've decided to write her a letter on my blog.

Dear mom,

You know how upset it makes you when the neighbors cut down big beautiful trees? When they pave over their yards to make more driveway for their giant cars, 4-wheelers, boats and RVs? You've watched people buy a house, destroy the giant tree that blocks the view of their cars, only to move out a couple of years later. Even if the new owners plant a tree, it will be 30-50 years before it matures.

Even though you have about fifty trees in your yard, it doesn't ease the pain of seeing fully mature trees ruthlessly chopped down or badly mauled by "tree trimmers." Well a friend of mine in Portland came home one day to find an 85-year old tree in her neighbor's yard, a tree she had a relationship with after years of living next to it, gone. Gone! The lady next door said she just didn't feel like taking care of it anymore.

"What gives you the right", my friend asked, "to cut down an 85-year old tree?!" Trees cool the surrounding area by up to 10 degrees, provide oxygen and a home to birds, and clean the air. Everyone's air.

I've always encouraged you to do something about this issue that angers you, write a letter to the paper or something, but I've come up with a plan that's much better. See, my friend in Portland got mad but then she organized a tree planting for Earth Day. Thirty-seven neighbors agreed to buy and plan trees. The day of the planting, even more neighbors came out, wanting to help so she's doing it again in the fall.

Here's my plan for you. The next time you have one of your tea parties with the ladies in the neighborhood, propose the idea of forming a committee to restore and save the trees in your burg. Among your friends are a City Attorney who could help you petition the city for tax credits for people who have mature trees on their property. You've got a Realtor in your group who could educate her clients on the benefits of having trees on their property and refer them to proper tree-trimmers who know how to take care of them. By the time you retire, you will have lived in this place for 30 years. You are someone who loves trees and plants, the kind of person that people listen to, and you could make a difference!

Get your sixty-eight year old Czech friend who's passionate and fired up to figure out how to form a non-profit and get funds for it. Have another friend come up with things you can do with the money you raise to advance the cause. Your retired Scottish friend can do research on the trend of disappearing mature trees in the suburbs. Ask your daughter who works in marketing to create a website and promotional materials.

THEN, when you run into celebrities at the supermarket (as you do), you can ask them to help! You could set up a booth at fairs, street markets and local celebrations, to educate the public on the value of trees and how to properly take care of them. Your celebrities could help attract attention to your cause.

You don't have to do it alone but you have to do something. Every time I come to your house, I notice that there are fewer and fewer trees in the neighborhood I grew up in. You're not the only one it bothers but you might be the only one who can put a stop to it. I support you fully.

Love,
Your daughter