2 TRAVELING DOGS, LLC
LUTZ, FLORIDA

I suppose that all of us have ideas on what things should be, and how they should look. In fact, you might have the idea that every dog can be as handsome as me, but they aren’t. For this tree, even though it became old, the beauty and purpose of it may have changed. But to me, it became even more useful, even more beautiful. You see, in every hole, it provided a sanctuary to someone, or something. The woodpeckers, the birds, the bees, the wasps, the ants, well, they all have made it their home. It made me think of how Granny Person used to be. Her hands were wrinkled, her walk was slower. But in being slower, she was easier to find, to sit by and talk to. And with the hurried cars that drive by here day after day, I do wonder. Do they see the palm tree for what it is? Or for what it isn’t? Or do they see it at all? For Memaw Macaw, even though she can’t take care of this anymore, she will move on to her greener pastures with family and more time to just be. She may think of that palm tree, or maybe even the grapefruit trees by her door. She may think of the bottlebrush tree or that old oak tree shading half the street. She may think of when she was a girl, or when her children were young. She may also think of a gorgeous dog that once had a dirt hole here. But the good thing is that memories can be packed up and taken wherever we go. If anyone knows this, it is us. And even though Memaw Macaw’s purpose may be changing, just like the palm tree that once stood tall and green towards the sun, she will find a way to be all she can be too. Getting older doesn’t mean being less. It means making more of who we are. Must be that we are all waiting years to leave somewhere. Whether we want to or not. But it is what we leave, when we do, that counts. If we have the privilege of being able to look back when we leave like Memaw Macaw, look up like that old palm tree with your head held high. And don’t forget where you once stood.