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Travel Around > 值班的母親
Posted: Nov.26.2009 @ 11:13 am

 年少時,母親是鄉村的代課教師。同為校職工中的一員,母親與其他同事一樣身挑重擔,可所得的報酬卻不及“鐵飯碗”的零頭。儘管這樣,母親仍然樂此不疲地教育著學生,兢兢業業地履行自己的責任和義務。
有段日子,我發覺母親總會伸展下腰部,舒心地笑。我知道是什麼原因了,因為父親近來竟然主動提出母親一月三天的夜值班他全包了。這樣母親就不必在漆黑的夜里拉著我摸索在鄉間的小路上了。
那 個週日,早起的母親做好飯菜,料理好家務,還不見父親從學校值班歸來,便讓我到學校喚我那貪睡的父親。我走到母親的值班室,看到一把大鎖把門鎖得嚴嚴實實 的。自然父親不會在裡面了。回到家我把情況如實禀報了母親。母親拿剪刀的手顫抖了一下,只是那麼一瞬,微笑又恢復在她的臉上。她撫摸著我的頭說,快去寫作 業吧,你的父親可能是來不及打招呼就出公差了。 (當時,父親是村加工廠的會計。)尚在年幼的我雖然不暗世事,可我記得那些天母親出了趟遠門。不過,回來的時候春風滿面,還給我捎回了盼望以久的變形金 剛。
也就是從那時候起,我很少見到父親了,問及母親,她總說父親在外做生意,那樣可以賺好多錢,將來我可以上好一點的大學。我說可我想念父親呀, 母親說這個星期天父親就回來看我們了。到了星期天,父親果然回來了。他穿戴得像城里人,大包小包地拎著買給我的東西。母親的臉燦爛如花,張羅了一桌飯菜, 我們一家三口享受著天倫之樂。
就這樣,我的小學和中學大部分是和母親一起度過的。偶爾也有生活拮据的時候,但母親總是瞇著眼笑著說她都替我攢著 呢,將來用錢的地方可多啦。上小學還好,我可以陪母親走過崎嶇的小路陪她值夜班。可上了初中,我總會牽掛母親,擔憂她一個行走在晚風裡的淒愴場面。終於, 那個上完夜自習的晚上,我從離家十里地的學校跑了回來,母親愕然地望著我,我說我陪你一起值班吧。母親無語。那夜,我挎著母親的胳膊走在鄉間小路上,母親 向我注射著信念和堅強的東西。還一個勁說沒事的,這路她早熟悉了,就是閉上眼睛也知道哪裡有溝哪裡有坎兒。叮囑我千萬別操心家裡的事,全力以赴好好唸書才 是根本。
去城上高中那年,母親辭去了代課教師的職務。做了我一名忠實的陪讀生。我想我那身居異鄉的父親肯定賺了不少錢,因為母親總從郵局拿著錢回 來,給我買價格不菲的生活用品,大大滿足我的虛榮心。我的學習勁頭可大了,目標照準的是名牌大學。而母親除了照顧我的起居飲食之外還到鄰近的工廠做工,我 笑母親有福不會享,而母親總是佯嗔一笑說,誰怕錢多呀,我盼不得給你掙一座金山呢。我只好痛并快樂地由她忙去,惟一想的就是用好成績報答她。
當我拿到心儀的大學錄取書時,陽光卻呈現出了它陰霾的一面。母親倒下了,從醫生的口中我得知母親的心髒病、高血脂、糖尿病已非一日之寒了。面對孱弱的母親,我內心有著不屑的鄙視和憎恨,這個守財奴,守著金山而自討苦吃,簡直是自作自受!
而真像也在那一刻出現了猙獰的面目。原來父親在我少年時的那個早晨,就以為母親值班的名義,和廠裡一個女人私奔了。儘管偶爾也大包小包地拎著東西回來和我們團圓,可這中間凝聚母親多少的卑微和下賤啊。更不可能給我們匯錢,那卡上的錢從來都是母親的辛苦錢變個名義存上去的。
這 個時候母親是那麼弱不禁風,她說她對不起我,沒有值好班,沒能把陽光永遠灑給我。只有我知道母親為我撐起的天空是那麼晴朗,那麼明媚。試想,當初母親是幽 怨的,陰鬱的;或者說是自卑的、歇斯底里掙扎吶喊的,我的人生會是怎樣的呢?當我恍悟,母親其實犧牲自己是在為我改寫人生的時候,我抱著她爽朗地笑了,並 響噹噹地拍著自己的胸膛說,經歷了前路的荊棘,以後的事已是小菜一碟了。媽媽,拿起筆抒寫自己的人生吧。讓我接替你來值好咱家的這個班吧。

Travel Around > 登山雜記
Posted: Sep.02.2009 @ 5:50 pm | Lasted edited: Sep.02.2009 @ 4:55 am

 宜州是群山環繞的城市,像是個發育不良的少年,夾雜著農村成長的樸實因子。城市和鄉村,交匯成了一道亮麗的風景。
 
其實來宜州都一年了,從來都沒有爬過這裡的山。以往都是在城市中行走,走得時間久了,不免心生勞累。
 
爬山,今天還是第一次。
 
和朋友在劉三姐廣場逗留了幾圈,已是大汗淋漓,這就是南方的天氣。即使是像這樣沒有太陽的下午,也依然悶熱。空氣中漂浮著數不清的燥熱。
 
下午的廣場還沒有太多的人,只有幾個擺地攤的商販和幾個十幾歲的孩子踏著輪滑,飛馳在廣場的每一個角落,交織著快樂的足音。
 
也許,廣場白天屬於城市,夜晚則屬於鄉村。
 
其實每每到夜晚,廣場上的人就多了起來。每天晚上都有近百人的隊伍在跳舞,古代的或是現代的,年輕人和老年人混在一起。此時沒有年齡的分別,只有青春的標誌。有很多孩子,在一個巨大的充氣玩具上蹦啊跳啊,肆無忌憚的狂歡。
 
廣場的一側有一條很窄的路,這便是鄉村氣息延伸到城市的觸角。
 
這裡有城市的氣息,但不浮躁;有大山的呼吸,但不寧靜。像是鄉村的影子,但又不真切。
 
順著路延伸,有一個茶莊。靠著山體巨大的岩壁,他顯得格外渺小。對面是一排排錯綜複雜的說不上名字的樹木。它們伸展的相當的茂盛,嫵媚的伸展著自己動人的腰肢。從這裡走過,像是走過一片原始森林,陰森之感籠罩心頭。
 
但早已習慣了燥熱的人們在這兒顯得格外的享受。

在相對較寬的山路上,一團團的人相聚在一起,圓圓的桌子就立在他們中間。老人們一邊端著手中的茶細細品咂,一邊目不轉睛的盯著桌上的麻將,微微點 著頭或是嘆息著搖頭;有的則乾脆靠著大樹,相互看不到對方的臉,在那談論人生,手中的茶杯不時的舉起又放下;年輕人則參差的圍著圓桌,緊握著手中的撲克邊 吼邊打,那聲音並不可怕或可惡,反而覺得他們相當的可愛,像一群童言無忌的孩子,杯中的茶一飲而盡毫無品茶的味道;孩子們大都耐不住喝茶的寂寞,三五成群 的在桌子間的縫隙中游來游去,嚶嚶呀呀的唱著跳著,相互追趕著。有孩子的地方總擺脫不了生機。
 
此時的人們像極了這裡的寵兒,在大樹陰涼的懷抱中,享受著快樂。
 
我和朋友泥鰍般的從桌子的縫隙中滑過,繼續前行。
 
再走五十來米,就到了通向山頂的階梯的,但此時的我強忍著登山的慾望,因為這條山路還沒有走到盡頭。我沿著路指示的方向望去,茅屋、矮房、高樓……
 
我知道從這裡就又通向了城市,但我很想知道城市和自然在路的另一側又會有怎樣的交匯風景。
 
沿著這條小路走不了多遠就有一個斜向下的坡,坡很緩,左邊是緩緩的山腳,右邊是平整的農田。一方方矮矮的墓碑坐落在山腳,白色的墓碑在綠浪中屹立,非常的顯眼,莊重之餘倍感古樸與真實。我想這才應該是自然與城市的分界吧!因為這裡有靈魂把守。
 
右側的田地上,有一位老人在燒廢棄的秸稈,嗶嗶剝剝的清脆聲,伴隨著青煙直插雲霄。這裡很靜,出了火苗掙扎的聲響,就只剩心臟的律動了。
 
前方一個小女孩,六七歲光景,從冒著青煙的茅草屋跑出,手中拿著一個剛剛烤好的玉米,邊吃邊跑,還不時的揮舞著手中的金黃。她從身邊掠過,玉米的香味纏繞著我的雙腳。
 
我停下來,回味!
 
登山的路全部是用水泥砌成的,很好走,卻很長,也很陡,就像這裡的文化,被城市文明包裹著,但很深邃。
 
山路曲曲折折,時陡時緩,走在上面,仰望著山頂,感覺不想爬山,而是在密林中尋一位久不遇的隱者。山路就像是在跟我捉迷藏,將美好的風景都藏在後面,讓我的目光帶動著腳步不知疲憊的邁著。
 
山道上人很多,有的上,有的下。孩子總是不知疲倦的天使,邊跳邊唱,把父母甩的遠遠的,而身後的父母,一邊爬一邊用手用力的按住大腿,支撐著全身 的力氣。有很多戀人,走得很慢很悠閒,邊走邊說著溫情脈脈的壯話,後面的人趕了上來,或是上面有人下山,他們就站在路的同一側,手牽著手,等著路人經過。 老人則平靜的喘著氣,勻速爬山,累了,就坐在石階上休息片刻。
 
我們在路旁找了一塊空地,坐下來休息。我揩著胳膊上珍珠似的晶瑩的汗珠,感受著背上、胸部、腿上的汗水流淌出一道道的痕跡。
 
我並不累。
 
很多人都習慣了赤腳登山,與大自然有肌膚之親確實是一件很愉快的事。此時我突然想起了山腳處零星散落的鞋,我想那倒也灑脫,將鞋扔到路邊,亦不失為一種情調。也許越靠近大地就越覺得真實。
 
穿過那道山門,就能看到山路的盡頭了,朋友很高興的說道。此時的我卻停下了腳步,打算回程。我很想保持著征服它的慾望,讓它的神秘面紗在下一次為 我打開。朋友說走吧,別走是把自己沉浸在想像之中,那樣必然會離現實越來越遠,況且這裡的山不止這一座,適時克服才是明智之舉嘛!
 
想想也是,理想與現實總是有很大的差距。
 
我站在山頂處一塊黑色岩石上,驀然想到了山高人為峰這句話。剎那間,我感覺我在統治著腳下的一切。
 
如蟻的人群密密麻麻,永遠也走不出俯視的目光,汽車蠕動在窄窄的馬路上,碾碎著一個城市原有的寂靜。這裡很靜,所以很遙遠。
 
我想我是真的遠離了城市,目送著朦朧的水泥森林,我想我原本就不屬於那裡。
 
那裡太熱鬧,也太喧囂。
 
又一個赤腳的人登上了山頂,我驀然一驚。
 
我找到了鋼筋水泥包裹的文明。
 
水泥包裹的城市,永遠也禁錮不了人心。就像晚上廣場上的舞步,就像晚上廣場上的歌聲,就像晚上廣場上孩子是歡笑、老人的棋藝,就像赤腳登山的人踏著城市的水泥走出的仍是古樸的氣息……
 
此刻,我的心很空,空出的地方,我盛放了很多以前沒有想過的事情。

Related tags: 1.Necklaces 2.PP Bag

Travel Around > But Time Back
Posted: Aug.19.2008 @ 4:15 pm

 During the Olympic Games, Beijing implemented a motor vehicle, Single and Double limit line measures, many people travel Gaisheng public transportation, and realize the benefits of the traffic improvement, and the Beijing Public Transport low prices and constantly improve the services and measures to further enhance the public transport Attractive. Olympic Games Beijing is promoting the return of transit times.

Deputy director of Beijing Municipal Transportation Committee Zhou Zhengyu, during the Olympics, the implementation of Single and Double limit line, the District of Beijing reached a speed of 43 kilometers per hour, highway and the national average daily traffic flow over the limit line before a decrease of 34.6% And 25.2 percent, the ground speed of bus travel restrictions from the line before the 14.5 km per hour increase to the current nearly 20 km.

Zhou Zhengyu said that the trip not only because the increased efficiency of vehicles during the Olympic Games Single and Double limited to the implementation of measures, from the deeper level that the implementation of the Beijing Public Transport Priority policy results.

According to reports, after the successful Olympic bid, Beijing has invested several hundred billion dollars for buses and rail traffic updates, transfer hub of the building. So far, Beijing update and add new bus reached 16,000, the bus reached over 20,000, of which more than 90 percent for the green bus. Rail lines from the initial two to eight, operating mileage reached 200 kilometers, Japan sent more than 300 million passengers. Beijing has also vigorously carried out on public transport subsidies, a low fare policy, more than 600 bus routes by more than half of the line just 20 cents or a 4 cent. MTR fare from the entire network before the three yuan and five yuan for the reunification of two yuan.

These measures have made the Beijing public transport substantial increase in the number of visitors. At present, Beijing's public transport on the transport of passengers over 20 million passengers, the proportion of public transport to travel 45 percent of the limit line before the full increase of 10 percentage points. At the same time, "green travel" and "car-free day" and "queue," "Parks," and other activities, environmental protection, green, travel and new concepts of civilization enjoys popular support, more and more people began happy to take the initiative to choose healthy, reasonable travel方式.

Beijing's social conditions and public opinion surveys on the Olympic Center during the Single and Double limit line, the survey found that 94.8 percent of the respondents supported the Olympic Games, during the Single and Double limit line, than in 2007 "Good Luck Beijing" after 88 races .9% Support rate rose by 5.9 percentage points, of which 54.6 percent of the respondents said that the MTR and other public transport choice, more than 16.1 percent of the respondents to Cycling.

This reporter learned that, because of restrictions Single and Double line, during the Olympic Games, Beijing every day there are 400 million people moved to public transport line. And because of a prior accumulation, through increased vehicle trips, extended hours and so on, public transport formulated a detailed response options, from the present situation, public transport on the protection of traffic during the Olympic Games completed very well. According to reports, on August 12, Beijing Subway transportation passenger volume reached a record high, the entire rail transportation network delivery of 4.1 million people. August 8 and 9, Beijing Metro to create a 45-hour operation records, a total of 6.1 million passengers transported passengers. Opening out into the audience more than 95 percent use of public transport.

Zhou Zhengyu said that Beijing is the way out of traffic coming bus priority, continue to unswervingly implement the development strategy of bus travel. And the convening of the Olympic Games greatly promoted the acceleration of this process.

flowers| sweetheart| travel| rose| alice|blogza|ani

Travel Around > Go Out of the Door
Posted: Jul.07.2008 @ 11:46 am | Lasted edited: Jul.07.2008 @ 8:25 am

 Recently I've been staying at home, don't even  want to open my door.

I like being quiet, like being alone, just as like the rain to like the night.

Listen to the music and have a look around some characters, very smooth and right in the heart; Ancient live in seclusion mountain forest, I believe it is this kind of mental state.

In this flourishing city "  Live in seclusion " ,Really a bit luxurious; Stay in having space full of competitions of place, and have nothing to compete for with others, there is mystery of Arabian Nights.

It is in fact only when being very transient, the small comfort made of oneself; Just as offices and men wearing armor and fighting, there is the division of day and night of truce.

This is the forest city where armored concrete stands, all scenery is in the potted landscape of the balcony.

The dual nature of the human nature will get sufficient show here, on one hand should be full of fighting will, otherwise unable to survive; Like banishing the animal in the large primitive forest, must follow the natural iron law that the weak are the prey of the strong.

On one hand is extremely tired of the vulgar generation dispute, all schemes are starting from greedily, all planning is bloody, so hope soul has places to settle down.

There must be place settled down, even if very small space in soul, very short time, face it if there is an opportunity too.

Such a situation very funny, what modern civilization meet awkward, human nature inevitable variation?

People, very in fact negligible, just because the one's own one is negligible, and build the world very largely, so there are skyscrapers, so there is a reputation reputation.

All intelligence of mankind lie in beautifying the world, lengthens the life-span, while making the crisis, process destroyed with higher speed.

This puzzlement that can't solve, essence of human nature, can't solve while being tired out.

The person of all definitions grows the meaning, all very fragile, like the dewdrop, sparkling and crystal-clear, too beautiful to stand a wisp of light breeze.

So there are sad, painful, love and hate; So there is airtight justifying oneself.

Just as now, I sit here, beat the keyboard carelessly, the music hovers, quiet with sanctimonious picture gentleman.

This is only one side, I will go out of the door tomorrow, I will be like a soldier going on an expedition, and I will have a heart filled with fighting will, continue carrying on that funny grapple.

Related tags: 補習社 拉丁舞 訂花

Travel Around > How to Keep Loyally and Loving
Posted: Jun.17.2008 @ 5:12 pm

 In one trip in country in Russia, I visited an unique monument, and leanrt one sadly beautiful moving story also ecancerawareness .

One day in September, I am up to China " tour of art of Volga River " Troupe reach one of state of being middling, Volga River of Russia, call inferior small city of base of a fruit on the pottery by ship, stay here for one day. Because everybody knows little about this city, the interest visited is not high. But the companion tells, there is " dog's tablet " in this city ,Cause my strong interest immediately azcomments .

As everyone knows, Russia commemorates various celebrities, historical incidents and monuments which commemorate the martyr who lay down one's life for one's country everywhere, and fresh that a dog builds the tablet. Then, shout and stop a " draw and reach " with the companion The taxi, we drive fast on the deep and vast road of the water accumulation in year. On the road, the companion tells " dog's tablet " Story,this it is true in piece story blogit .

A young man who calls Shasa, adopted wolf's dog of a roam, was named zacaili, accompanied interdependently from then on. Every day, go out Shasa work as a temporary labourer it go home,want must for he zacaili by crossing wait. One day of 1996, zacaili reached Shasa such as the crossing again, but did not wait until. Shasa encounters the traffic accident unfortunately this day, has not gone home again. Zacaili is raise one's head and look persistently, is expecting. People's hopeless miss and sadness will be faded from memory with passage of time, but surprisedly, from meet accident from Shasa for that day, day by day, year after year, 6 solid years passed by, no matter hardships sleet, or the burning sun is scorching, zacaili remains unchanged or squats or lies at that crossing every day, wait for the coming back of the host   Later, when people called out its name, no longer call it " zacaili " ,And a new name arises for it - -Loyal. One day of 2002, zacaili take to one's bed and never leave it again at last, followed the host and left. The local has been buried at that crossing zacaili, and has set up a simple and easy monument in the graveyard. However, one day, several drunkards have destroyed the card of commemorating. Then under residents' request, the municipal government of inferior base of a fruit provides funds and reconstructs a monument in the former address in the pottery, it is zacaili statue to invite a famous sculptor from one gram of cities of hard Beales ilmioblog .

Act as " draw and reach "  The car rolls away from the urban area, when comes to the fork in the road of a main road by the city, we are obeying the direction of driver's finger, see that stands in that monument on the meadow in front of a row of residential buildings nearby. Before being near, see the nearly one people high marble at the square base, squat one style naturalistic wolf dog's sculpture only, two ears of its stand upright, one pair of eyes stares in the distant place, expect in that sight, sad   What furthermore made me surprised is, in " dog's tablet " Several bunches of flowers are put on the base. A gust of gale blows, the flowers scatter in all directions to the meadow, the companion is chasing with the wind, busy the east one one of the west collect, comb blow flowers again, put back get " dog tablet " reverent without end Ago, have some it among bearing in a frantic rush from him, I feel the sincere emotion of getting off him, hear him say repeatedly childishly: "What ' trivial skill ', ' discredited dog's dung ', ' the lackey ',etc. will I never talk about later   "" dog's tablet "  Engraving two lines of Russian positively, careless: It teaches us to be loyal and loving harcerski .

It is said that often Russian young men and women who have just held the wedding come here to present a bouquet of flowers, have a picture taken as a memento. Instantly in Russia the person divorcing is not small number, perhaps they hope the stories of Shasa and zacaili can teach them how to keep loyally and loving ff-j ashita-sanuki.

Travel Around > Chase the Horse!
Posted: Jun.17.2008 @ 4:56 pm | Lasted edited: Jun.17.2008 @ 4:08 am

My homeland Changyuan is full of sufferings and sad in my impression. After farewell to the barren mountains and unruly rivers of the homeland once taking off the school uniform, after a long separation year in year out, get that azalea in bloom spring each time, heart of me fly back Hunan the north the remote corner, I flew back yellow to stamp on the lakeside, remember the homeland Changyuan. That red soil and lake beach, are far away from visiting souls of the native land affecting one constantly, bore and defend son's heart assassinating a drop of ends of the earth day and night. Because every of there laugh heartily every sad melody, belong to I and fellow countrymen of me gunmablog .

No doubt, I am my Changyuan with all the different kinds suffering, no matter how history and nature are to develop, I am familiar with a mountain one water, every tree and every blade there too. But development of history often unexpected, Changyuan of me can strange brand-new appearance meet she thousand li come alien that return to totally with me unexpectedly. Nine eight curved country dirt roads that abduct stayed on another end of history, it was a wide and straight main road that met me and entered the village. Does the mountain range depend on hiding the thatched cottage with bamboo fence-simple dwelling of a hermit of the windscreen rain from generation to generation in the thatched shed? Have been buried in oblivion by history? Only see flickering new floor Song place oneself in the flower clump at the moment. It is the right for me to can't help by fear, it have much " it is the long in alien,fail to see by footpath between fields and mulberry " Its sense 365blog .

I usher into me the office building of village committee at east the seventh deputy to the National People's Congress, yuan of national outstanding party branch secretary at the basic level. Rustic some old branch secretaries in my impression harangue, make me gaping again. He has very high interest, the hometown economic reform that finish talking, discuss the optimization grouping of the rural laborer again, talk about developing rural industry to subsidize agriculture, by raising the engineering concrete operation method agriculturally; Also mention the difficult course that Changyuan shakes off poverty and sets out on the road to prosperity. His style of conversation, his makings and poise have already told me: He is a guide with ability osakazine .

Changyuan getting rich, village release the elderly support gold, students in middle and primary school free every year, go to the special secondary schools, institution of higher learning to for scholarships. Still run the kindergarten, the elderly's activity centre in the village; And there are theatres, there are information assistants   Oh! Changyuan, you have really already made people not dare to imagine.
 
There are several enterprises in the village, the main body enterprises are the brick and tile factories, all chasing Mapo at the site of factory. I often went to collect the grass fungus, spoke the bitter dish sarcastically as a child there, the name about it, another moving legend beautiful: Once upon a time a shepherd boy intelligent by natural endowments found Golden Horse, he thought: If can catch Golden Horse, the people of the whole village do not worry about clothing,food,lodging and transportion. Who knows he just moved thought, Golden Horse had already exerted oneself the hoof had darted, then the shepherd boy clung to on one's trail subsequently. The shepherd boy chases the horse, begins from that lake slope, fellow countrymen, in order to commemorate him, call there and chase Mapo. Golden Horse runs without a trace, the shepherd boy chases without a trace too, can live a happy life for the villagers, he has been looking for and catching up with Golden Horse, has not come back forever.

Chase the horse! unable to caught up with the horse? Has not that shepherd boy come back? The policy of enriching the people of the party is that Golden Horse, the old branch secretary is that shepherd boy, he takes the place of paces while keeping up with, he has caught up with that Golden Horse! 

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Travel Around > Spring Thaw
Posted: Apr.30.2008 @ 11:32 pm

  Every April I am beset by the same concern-that spring might not occur this year. The landscape looks forsaken, with hills, sky and forest forming a single graymeld, like the wash an artist paints on a canvas before the masterwork. My spirits ebb, as they did during an April snowfall when I first came to Maine 15 years ago. "Just wait," a neithbor counseled. "You'll wake up one morning and spring will just be here."

Andlo, on May 3 that year I awoke to a green so startling as to be almost electric, as if spring were simply a matter of flipping a switch. Hills, sky and forest revealed their purples, blues and green. Leaves had unfurled, goldfinches had arrived at the feeder and daffodils were fighting their way heavenward.

Then there was the old apple tree. It sits on an undeveloped lot in my neighborhood. It belongs to no one and therefore to everyone. The tree's dark twisted branches sprawl in unpruned abandon. Each spring it blossoms so profusely that the air becomes saturated with the aroma of apple. When I drive by with my windows rolled down, it gives me the feeling of moving in another element, like a kid on a water slide.

Until last year, I thought I was the only one aware of this tree. And then one day, in a fit of spring madness, I set out with pruner and lopper to remove a few errant branches. No sooner had I arrived under its boughs than neighbors opened their windows and stepped onto their porches. These were people I barely knew and seldom spoke to, but it was as if I had come unbidden into their personal gardens.

My mobile-home neighbor was the first to speak."You're not cutting it down, are you?" Another neighbor winced as I lopped off a branch. "Don't kill it, now," he cautioned. Soon half the neighborhood had joined me under the apple arbor. It struck me that I had lived there for five years and only now was learning these people's names, what they did for a living and how they passed the winter. It was as if the old apple tree gathering us under its boughs for the dual purpose of acquaintanceship and shared wonder. I couldn't help recalling Robert Frost's* words:

The trees that have it in their pent-up buds

To darken nature and be summer woods

One thaw led to another. Just the other day I saw one of my neighbors at the local store. He remarked how this recent winter had been especially long and lamented not having seen or spoken at length to anyone in our neighborhood. And then, recouping his thoughts, he looked at me and said, "We need to prune that apple treeagain."

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