Cutting Down a Tree

When we moved in 8/11

Today, after 2 months, the tree service came around to remove the pitch pine that the nor'easter a week after Sandy damaged. I was hoping that they would just remove the broken-off third of the tree that was on the lawn, but they said that the whole tree should come down as it wouldn't stay standing very much longer anyway.

11/12

I have no idea how old the tree was. If you stop and consider just how big and complicated a tree is, they are amazing living mechanisms, tremendous pumping ability, incredible tenacity, the origin of the cliche "putting down roots" and yet, it doesn't take very long to cut one down. It actually takes more time to clean up afterward than to cut down the tree itself.  My father hated to cut down a tree. "It's a living thing, Larry," he'd say to me.

To quote Leonard Cohen: "We are so lightly here." 

(Clicking an image will bring up a photo strip)

Man up a tree

It starts to come down

Contemplating his next move

His next move

Reducing a giant to mulch

Into the great maw

Stump

Implement of further destruction

Stump removal

1/13: As if it was never there