Second Wind

A few months back, I wrote about a branch in a tree that had broken off, but not fallen to the ground. That branch has hung in that tree since it's breakage, and has only slipped down further and become caught in the web of other branches of the tree. It's been there through winter snow, spring winds, and even the latest spate of intense rainstorms, hail, and wind that has caused massive flooding in most of the eastern half of Pennsylvania.

Now this tree has budded and bloomed pretty well, but I noticed something about it lately. It looks a little weak, a little barren and tired, despite the green of its leaves. Several of its higher branches look dead, or dying. Who knows? Maybe those barren branches are just like gray hair on people, evidence of making it through stressful times with most of oneself still in tact, pushing on regardless. I guess that tree will stand stand there through a few more seasons, doing its seasonal tree things, till it can't anymore. I guess we all kinda do that.