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THE MAN | ||
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I was recently
disturbed by the presence of digging, chopping, chains, a chainsaw, and the
most determined, hard headed man I have ever seen in all my days. He wants me
to move so he can place a water garden right where I have spent my entire
existence. I have been on this earth (and under it) for a very
long time. I used to support and give life to a very large tree. At some
point the above ground portion of me was removed along with a part that
resided underground as well. This did not affect me as you may think. I did
not rot or decompose. I was not going anywhere until this man came along.
He dug away the earth that surrounded me. He chopped at my roots, which had
remained tough as steel. He tried to use his shovel for a lever and yet I
would not budge. He hooked me to a 4-wheel drive truck while telling his wife
"I've got it now honey!" After several unsuccessful attempts, in
which I refused to move an inch, this man gets out of his truck and starts
saying words I have never before heard! This went on day after day. As time went by, he
repeatedly chopped, pried, and pulled on me. Those words he said, I was starting
to get familiar with and understand their meaning. He tried his chainsaw
although he knew that was not a wise thing to do. That didn't work either.
His wife believed I was laughing at him. He was working so hard and
accomplishing nothing. He would work, stop to rest and just sit and stare at
me. How long could he keep this up? Occasionally his wife would come outside
and offer some words of encouragement. She knew I would not win. She's seen
him this way before. I could tell she knew I had met my match. One afternoon the neighbor offered the use of his
4-wheel drive truck. Alive with enthusiasm, the man said "YES!"
Looking down from an upstairs window, his wife watched as they hooked the two
trucks together and gave it their best shot. The cable between the two trucks
snapped and flew up in the air almost shooting into her automobile. I didn't
move at all. She came down the stairs and out the door to remove her ride
from harms way. Eventually the two men put their heads together and
came up with "plan B." Looking back, for man number one this was
plan #42. They hooked the trucks to me separately this time. They also went
after me from a different direction. I couldn't hang on any longer. A few
minutes later victory was theirs! That man with those words of disgust and a very
stubborn streak had finally won. The neighbors cheered and high-fived. I
wonder what they were thinking all those days he was out there fighting with
me. I'm sure I gave them some good laughs as they peered out their windows to
see what progress he had made that day. I earned the respect of
the man. I will now be cleaned and made more attractive. I will have a
space near the water's edge with beautiful flowers all around me. I will
bask in the sun, watch the fish swim about, and listen to the waterfall.
Looks like I win after
all! |
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©2004 Pioneer Valley Water Garden & Koi Club