Dreaming in the Trees

As a child, one of my favorite things to do was to wake up each morning, run outside and spend the entire day up in the trees. Each night I’d pack my winnie the pooh backpack with a book, a journal and snacks. (What can I say, I was organized as a child.) No matter where we lived, I always gravitated to these safe havens.

I’m not sure where my obsession with trees began, but one thing I do know is that I always felt safe when I was in one. The higher I climbed, the more comfortable I became. I’d spend hours doing nothing but peering out into the world, with the perfect bird’s eye view, contemplating the past, present and future. Many songs were sung, many poems written.

Aside from the many moments of solitude I experienced while up in the trees, I also share many memories with my sister and brother of us participating in a wide range of shenanigans. From hiding on the perfect branch, with water balloons in hand ready to strike, to us each taking our place in preparation for storytime (Boy did my siblings love Peter Rabbit and his many adventures).

It’s funny to think about the things we might have taken for granted while growing up. As I’m sure most who are dawned with the “Oldest Sibling” title, probably felt at one point or another, I’d complain when my sister wanted to watch me put on make-up or when my brother would tell my boyfriend an embarrassing story, or two. While they were aggravating at times, I miss the times we shared, the stories we’d tell, the games we’d play. You don’t think about it as a child, but once you make the transition into adulthood, your relationship with your siblings changes drastically. I’ve moved across the country and am thousands of miles away from my family. We speak on the phone maybe once every other week. I have no idea what’s really going on in their lives. I look back on our days spent in the trees, and they bring a smile to my face every time.

I may have grown up, an uprooted from my hometown to plant a life thousands of miles away, but I still make time for a quick climb every now and then. Looking off into the distance, cherishing the past and dreaming of the future.