Sunday, March 29, 2009

One of the Last Things My Dad Taught me.

( Not actual Trees I was to lazy to go take a picture and besides it's snowing out there.)
"What difference does it make?"


There I was, kneeling down on the ground next to a freshly planted Red Crimson Maple Tree. My Hands were covered in dirt and it did, I admit, look quite pretty there between the other two Maples and three Blue Spruce. "You know" I say to my dad, whom I'm helping. "These Maple trees aren't going to make it." Wayne County is not really the best climate for most vegetation. My dad Looked at me and said "Cathy, What difference does it make?"


I had completely overlooked the purpose of the whole experience. That was, Spending time with my dad, doing something we both enjoyed. I have never forgotten that moment in my life, nor the lesson learned. It was made even more potent to me when my father died the following winter. Those poor little Maple trees never died. they would just freeze each winter and then send out a new shoot each Spring from the ground, But you should see the beautiful Sruce trees. Now every time I question myself in a, seemingly unproductive, activity I'm doing with my children I ask myself "Cathy, what difference does it make?" and we continue, because it isn't, necessarily the results that will always have meaning. It's the things we learned and the time we spent together while reaching the results that matter the most.

3 comments:

Julie Harward said...

Aren't Dad's wonderful?! The lessons they teach are powerful..and it is true..what does it matter..it's just live, and the living of it.

Techno Grandma said...

The spruce trees that made it really do look good don't they? And I am so glad "Dad's" tree is doing so well. So were Dave and Judy.

Boy Mom said...

Thanks I really needed this post today. I planted some weeping spruce trees the summer before Mary Ann got married, it took me 40 minutes to dig the first hole and get the tree planted, I felt like Daddy was there the whole time helping me position it just right, reminding me to be careful not to break roots. I loved every minute of it. The other two trees only took about 15 minutes or less to dig and plant. I guess daddy had to go because i was on my own. I wondered about the noticeable time difference between the first tree and the other two. Someone pointed out to me that Daddy must have wanted to spend all the time he could. I'm glad for all the time we spent with Daddy.