If a Tree Dies, Plant Another One

Last week, we were awakened by the loud noises of city trucks chopping and tearing down the massive Maple tree across the street. It was deeply disturbing to watch this happen all day long and if I was the kind of neighbour to walk out and ask the person whose house this was happening at and who, by the way, I had never met, why oh why this unjust deed was occurring, I would have done so in a heartbeat. But, shamefully, I didn't want to get involved or come across as a nosy parker (we just moved in last year) and instead, watched in disbelief how this supreme gift of nature and magnificent source of oxygen disappeared from the Earth and our lives forever.

I recall reading somewhere that a mature leafy tree produces as much oxygen in a season as 10 people inhale in a year. Who is saving the trees? Arborists, tree planters, tree huggers and environmentalists need our help.

Later that same week as I was downtown, I noticed a happy-go-lucky young man walking down the street with a guitar strapped across his back stopping at every tree on his way and kissing it.

Peace, dude! You have the right idea.

Let this simple gesture be a lesson for all of us. Hug or kiss a tree today.