Farewell to My Cherry Tree

Last night sometime between 7:30 pm and 9:30 pm my beloved cherry tree laid down and died. My husband went out to water, and the tree was down. Amazingly enough she fell diagonally across the yard avoiding all there trees, the two fences nearby, and the neighbor's house. In addition the dogs weren't outside when it happened.

My heart is saddened. I had just finished the last piece of cherry pie the day before from this season's crop. Also, only two days before I had been under the tree pruning lower branches.

When I rose this morning, I wrote a poem in honor of this old, magnificent tree.  Here it is:


Farewell to a Cherry Tree
by Heather Hobson Lewis

Arising at my husband's beckoning
I flicked on a light
and followed him into the night.
We tread into the backyard
where the words I thought must have been exaggerated
proved to be completely true.

You, my beautiful tree, had laid down and quietly died.
Leaves still green,
cherries still at your top,
you now rested sprawled diagonally across the ground.

Mere hours before, out the window, I smiled at you,
all tall and strong,
you, who had just provided fruit upon fruit earlier this month,
some of which is now sealed in glass jars.

Just the day before I had eaten
the last piece of this season's pie from your cherries.
Just two days before,
I had been raking discarded pits and limbs
from beneath your wide spreading boughs,
while I thanked you for such an abundant harvest.

Yet this morning I awaken,
knowing your last summer and final cherry season
are now behind you.
Silently you laid down,
and in your kindness found a spot,
evading the other trees, the fences, and the neighbor's yard.

What a loving, amazing creature you were.
Kind enough to wait one more season,
to wait for the dogs to be on a walk,
and to wait for me to no longer be on the ladder beside you
when you chose to fall.

With love in my heart for you my dear cherry tree,
I say farewell.

Cherry Tree has Fallen. This is actually the top of the tree.

Notice the small tree in the cage that the cherry just missed?

So close to the fence line.

So close to the other fence line.

New Job: Registered Representative for AXA Advisors

UPDATE: For several reasons I chose to quit this job before it even really got started. August 14, 2018


The tests I mentioned in a previous post are now behind me. I completed and passed my Oregon State Life and Health Insurance test, the FINRA Series 63 test, the FINRA series 7 test. As of Monday I will officially be considered employed by AXA Advisors as a Registered Representative.  Thus I will be beginning my career in the securities field.

Though I have made it thus far, I know I still have a lot to learn and my officially company training will be beginning now. Since the field is heavily regulated, don't expect me to blog too much about my work, but know if you have any insurance, retirement, or other financial goals you would like assistance with, I am officially licensed to help you. Currently I'm only registered in Oregon, but plan to soon get my registration for California.

Boomer and Fern Go to the Beach

When  the forecasters announced that this Sunday would be an exceptionally hot day in our area, we decided the best course of action was to head to the beach. The drive would only be an hour, so eagerly we packed the car. Boomer has enjoyed the beach many times, but as far as we know, Fern has never gone to the beach before. She is six years old now, so we felt it was time for her to learn to play in sand and surf.

Fern on the way to the beach

Boomer on the way to the beach

The drive took a lot longer than we anticipated, as many other people had decided to head the same direction. The hour drive took close to two hours, and then it took us almost another hour to find a beach that wasn't crowded where we could let the dogs off the leash to play. Luckily we found such a beach.

The beach area we enjoyed for nearly two hours provided ample opportunity to walk, play in the water, and for Boomer and Fern to make new dog friends.

Boomer and Fern make new friends

The sand was comfortable as well as the weather. The beach we found was so free of debris and rocks that I enjoyed a nice long walk in my bare feet. Meanwhile Boomer and Fern played around me, often trying to use me as the base.

Boomer and Fern playing

Boomer and Fern playing

Boomer and Fern playing in the surf

After two hours Fern and Boomer were so tired they headed back to the car without me. Though I was enjoying my time, I was forced to follow them. We all were smiling.

Fern blissfully tired from playing on the beach

Boomer finally wearing down.

Remember, if you do take your dogs to the beach bring them fresh drinking water and pick up after them.