Trees have taken on a special importance for me this summer. Several weeks ago our cottage up-north in Oconto county was visited by a tornado. Huge old growth trees; oaks,maples, ironwood, birch, beech and pine snapped or toppled like dominoes in the woods surrounding us. Amazingly, our small house was mostly unscathed. But our propane tank, the drive to the house, the ravine and the forest roads nearby were severely impacted by the fallen trees. It is as if dear friends have died. This is not to say that a tree is like a Human being. It is as if a spirit , the spirit of the woods has been damaged beyond belief. We and our neighbors are in mourning. Like most intense experiences in life, this one has brought dismay and gratitude, hope and fear , and a very real sense of the beauty and fragility of life.
Buying our small bit of woods was a return to my roots. As a child, my safe place was a small park near our house and the Great Lake and forest country Up North where we rented a cabin each summer. We came out of the storm in far better shape than many. The fifty or sixty trees that went down did not take a life or destroy our house. The storm has redefined my feelings about the forest, but it did not take away my joy and awe of it.
Close to one corner of the house nine large trees went down in a tangle of trunks and branches. As we cleared most of the debris, we discovered a little stand of very small pine trees right behind the mess. They were previously hidden from us and now stand ready to reach for the new light that now can reach them. I understand that adversity can make a place even more precious. Once, I thought, why would someone rebuild in the aftermath of a storm? The answer is clear now, somethings are worth more than they seem.
One Night the Moon is about light in the darkness of night. It is a celebration of trees.
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