Tree Fort: April 30, 2011 - Feb 17, 2012

Oh, Tree Fort... you were a bright spot in our (admittedly, already bright) backyard! The joy you brought to small people, as they cavorted upon you, throwing bombs on other, ground-bound, small people... Pain was also inflicted, as there can be no joy in life without knowing pain. The splinters from your not-quite-smoothly-sanded boards embedded themselves deeply in little palms, soft feet, and memories.

Zachariah was so excited to build you! A very long, and not-so-productive, trip to Mr. Bricolage set us up with a few essentials, but not until we stopped at a lumber stand on the side of the road did you start to become a reality.

Your boards were young and new and strong. We thought you would last forever. Or at least a year.

You were born surrounded by the laughter of children. Yes, yes... I know! Also some whining and screaming, to be sure, but for now we will reflect on the happy moments. Now hush, little Forty (don't accidentally sub an 'a' in there or Zac will think you're talking about him), and just reminisce with me.

Bran! Oh, Bran... He lovingly helped to create you. His little bum was the first to sit upon you, as he held nails and banged the hammer upon you soundly.

Nuala joined him, and I'm certain you felt the realm of possibility for your existence expand to include princesses and fairies and She-Ra. And sword-wielding ballerinas. And pink dragons. Sparkly ones.

No doubt you could sense her unease, perched as she was on a small unfinished platform seven feet above the ground. The girl who whoops with delight as she lifts off into the air paragliding, or being whipped on a trampoline bungee-harness high above the treetops was nervous sitting on your warm, golden boards as her father hammered slat after slat into place.

But, like any good parents would, we forced her to sit upon you, trapped by that cursed common sense that kept her from leaping to the ground, until you won her over with your charm and sturdiness. The sap with which your climbing boards were soon covered did NOT help win anyone over, but the magic that a tree fort exudes outweighed that unpleasantness. Olive oil helped, too.

You were a beauty to behold, and we were pleased to call you our own. We never knew how little time we would have with you...

Oh, Zachariah! If only you had stopped at your normal seven mugs of hot chocolate with extra whipped cream! What possessed you to "go a little crazy" and mix up number eight? But, as they say, hindsight is 20-20, and the "what ifs" will only drive us mad.

(Or we can just shake our fists at the tree that shifted in the winter snowstorms, popping out a couple of support beams, and wish we could go back in time and repair them before the tragedy occurred. And, of course, be super glad no one was actually ON it when it came a-fallin' down. Not two days earlier a little friend asked if she could go up. Nope. Sigh. Oh, well.)

Tree Fort, we had some good times, yes we did! And now we have a wonderful supply of firewood for the upcoming camping season. If Spring ever stops teasing us and actually arrives for GOOD, that is.