July 18, 2006:

"Don't hurt that tree!"

Puzzled. "I didn't hurt the tree."

Angry. "You did! I saw you!"

He didn't understand. He didn't answer.


He would never have hurt the tree. It was a living thing, a friend, a shelter, a challenge, a brother, a home.

She was old. She misunderstood, in some old person's way that was a mystery to him.


He would never be like that, if he got old.