I am taking my bicycle to set off. This time with Terezka. “Where are we going today?” she asks.
“Today we are heading towards the tree, Terko” and she knows already. She took a photo of this tree some time ago. That one has attracted me particularly since the moment I have seen it far from a bus, which passes by it. I have it on my phone screen. It is not possible to go nearby. There are private fields all around. T
here are always some vegetables, radish, cabbage, lettuce in these fields. Each time something different. Local farmers think over everything. We, who are going around, are always surprised with new plants in the fields for each season. You know already about sunflowers this year. What a joy it was.
I am taking my green bicycle with a basket in front. A fresh baguette and something to drink would fit into the basket. Terka is taking her bicycle that Peter and I bought in Trhove Sviny last year. Terka is riding a bicycle all the time. Klarka does the same. They go on bicycle to school this year, much often than before. It makes me happy. I am happy that they do sport and enjoy it. I did not grew up this way. I have not seen it at home.
I do not think it was common to fit in a sport in a daily programme. It is pity. I did not develop a liking to spend time this way. I have developed a joy for reading, walking and swimming. We went for walks with my sister close to a lake throughout the whole summer.
Our dad took care of us since he had a holiday as a teacher. I always had a book with me. Mum came by a bit later when she finished her work around 3 o’clock. She went to see us. We had a snack. We enjoyed it. She spent longer time with us during her holidays. She liked sunbathing. I am sorry that it is different today. My parents got older and being outside on the sun in the hot weather is more burden than a joy. I kept love for swimming. It is a great pleasure of me now.
Our ride is smooth, not a race. We go, discuss, stop and laugh. We do not understand how is it possible that many cyclists are passing us since we have not heard them at all. They think that they will miss something in their lives, so they go so fast that it hard to notice them.
We are almost there. I feel good by the tree even if we cannot go close to it due to a trail that is missing there. It seems that there is a radish field this year. Radish can be planted later in the season.
A tree is half-dry. It would probably not be there anymore if it would not grow in Switzerland. Trees in Switzerland have the same status as monuments. They are protected. Beware those who would harm them. This “my tree” certainly does not correspond to the EU norms concerning trees. If there are any such norms. It seems that there are norms for everything in the EU. For example my carrots do not understand this and have such a bad size that they would not be able to get into any supermarket. They do not have the size of the uniform, straight carrots in the shop. In spite of this, my carrots are here. In addition, they taste good. Yippee! Hurray! Three times hallelujah! They fought for their life in the same manner as me when I was planting them. Who knows how it is with trees in the EU. This one would be surely cut.
When I saw it for the first time, I did not know that it would capture my personal story. I went here with Peter. We were sitting close by and talking.
I have never hugged trees. I would like to hug this one. In spite of being completely dry inside, it has green branches around. As if it makes a beautiful, green crown around the dry foundation. A huge one, which cannot be carried. This tree reminds me of a construction of the Maypole.
Jesus…what is it maypole? … Have a look at the photo and… google it. I do not feel like explaining it here.
When we moved to our first sub-let flat with Peter, we had photos of trees on the walls. I had them for a long time. I bought them and looked forward to finding a place for them in my own apartment. Photos in brown frames, four trees, each on one photo. It has brought me a peace to my soul.
Trees are important for me. They have their mystery and I am happy to have some in our garden. They played important role in choosing the house. We did not want a place where everything is modern and there is a piece of English green in a small garden. The garden and trees were more important in the choice than the house.
When I walk from one corner to another, trees are there with me. They protect and hug our land so that it is enjoyable. I am grateful to them. I look forward to meet each of them personally. I will not be an innocent meeting. It will be profound converging with each of them. Since I honour each of them, they will have their birth certificates. I will write down a name of each tree. I will add its photo. I will add its age and its Latin, Czech, English and French name. I will put this information to the every tree. When someone arrives, he or she would know. I am planning something else. I will not disclose it now. I have my mystery.
As those trees.
Cartigny, 15.9.2020