Do you rememberA special placeWhere the artistically woven branchesOf a long-dead treeTold unknown stories from years past? It is paved with asphalt now, Supporting the feet and wheels of commuters and visitors Enjoying the riverside view.The physical presence of that thoughtful landmark is now goneBut if you are quiet and very still, you might still feel it’s presence there.  

The Witness (Raanana, January 14, 2018) What did you witness today? Was it exceptional or was it like every other day? What was it about the day you found exceptional? Would you have preferred it last forever or Would you have preferred it never were? Was it lovely beyond words or Was the pain more than you could take? Did you want to die? Was there a tree involved? What kind of tree? Tall or scraggly? Straight or bent? D...

A massive old Acacia abyssinica tree grew to one side of the house on the edge of a seasonal pond overlooking the valley and fields below. So much life happened in and around this beautiful tree and through the decades many milestones had been commemorated in the shade of its branches; weddings, christenings, memorial services and countless lunch parties. Children who had grown up climbing in it now watched their grandchi...

Love is inexplicable, inextricable,Juices made ever trickleable,Kisses trail down our bodies,lingering on lips, which tingle forever,moans exchanged in a chorus of love,as pure and unblemished as a snow-white dove.Love is infinite, as is its power,if you don't have love, you'll forever glower. My Kitten and I, we love one another,for us, there is no other.'Neath a tree, we shall be married together forever, our souls fulf...

I went to the park today. I had to do something. Laziness was setting in, so I decided to take a walk. The past month or so, I’ve been quite lazy, staying in the house and doing not much. Working quite a bit, right enough, but it isn’t exactly very fruitful. No fruit for me. When I got to the park, I headed to my favourite tree, which I’ve talked about before. It’s a y-shaped one. Some sort of evergreen. When I sat on it,...

I came to live with this family in 1988, when they moved across the country, leaving family and friends behind in search of a new beginning and a better life. I was already here in California, waiting for a new home and family to watch over. They arrived here on New Year's Day into a motel where they lived for six weeks while their new house became ready for them. To become familiar with where they lived, they ventured ou...

The tree in my backyard is on top of me. I know! I know! No one will believe me but trust me, trust me! The tree in my backyard is on top of me! It stands there, its large roots placed on top of me. It mocks me and teases me, telling me that my days are numbered before the world forgets about me. It inevitable, isn't it? The world forgetting about me. Oh, why me! Oh, why me! The tree is on top of me! The tree in my backya...

Mom’s birthday was August 24. On August 25, she started baking for Christmas. The first thing on her agenda was the fruitcake, because it was best if it aged three or four months. In September, she started baking cookies. She made several dozen Pfeffernouse, followed by several dozen Springerle cookies. Then, there’d come a short hiatus from making Christmas food, to prepare for Thanksgiving dinner. After Thanksgiving, sh...

PART ONEIt’s that time again, that time again--that time between mid-November and the end of December. Yes, it is that time again, when everywhere you look, everywhere you go, you are reminded that you need to buy something for someone. That time again, when kids, momentarily, are on their best behavior in an attempt to parley or negotiate a bigger bonus of toys and other gifts. Yes, it is that time again; as the temperat...