Her Majesty the Mighty Oak
By Pat Healy
As I lay on my back beneath this majestic oak tree I knew she deserved a name reflective of her relevance. From this day forth she would be known as Her Majesty. Her branches reached like outstretched arms high into the sky as a sense of freedom filled the air.
As a small child her awesome strength and beauty captured me for many hours. She was so large and so perfect in many ways. Her branches were as arms welcoming and sheltering all of us within her massive reach. My neighborhood friends and I used her as a meeting place. She was our sanctuary. She protected us from the weather and sheltered us from the wind, the rain and the sun. It was as though we all shared her in Her Majesty. We developed a deep sense of respect for her.
We passed by her on our way to school. Oh if she could only talk she would tell of our inner most secrets. There was no reason to hold back in her presence. We could hear the wind blow through her arms as if she was whispering to us. In her confidence we shared our dreams, our sorrows and our excitement. If only she could share the secrets she could create the unwritten diaries of our childhood years.
She resided in an open field of tall natural prairie grasses. In the spring and summer, she was kept company by assorted wild flowers and provided protection for the cocoons that were to become the beautiful butterflies that would adorn the neighborhood. In the autumn, Her Majesty was robed in an array of bright colors before blanketing the ground and depositing the acorns that would sustain squirrels and other wildlife throughout the coming winter. In the winter she spoke to us softly as we ran by in order to get home where we could be warm and cozy. She unselfishly remained steadfast on that prairie to provide shelter and protection for the many critters that relied on her. The birds nested in her arms. The squirrels found her to be a steadfast partner. The wisest of owls, the most cantankerous blue jays and the tiniest insects were welcomed into her protective domain. She really had a lot to offer to the wildlife. She could well have been the most stable thing in their lives as she was in mine.
The beauty of Her Majesty was just that she stood so tall and so proud and it was magical to see her reaching to the sky. This sacred haven grew closer to me than I ever realized. I recall the day this sacred piece of prairie went up for sale. I worried about the fate of Her Majesty. Fortunately, the developer spared her life and developed around her. I was so very grateful.
Her Majesty still remains standing to this day. While the prairie is now covered with condos and concrete, Her Majesty still plays a vital role. She stands as proof that one can combine the best of nature with the inevitability of “progress.” I will always treasure that site. I take my grandsons there to share my story. I praise that developer for the extra effort it took to plan around this special tree. It is my hope that our humanity can learn to co-exist with nature to the benefit of everyone. Her Majesty is living proof that it can be done.