By Sherry Martini Santa Monica
I wish I had checked my e-mail from fellow Treesavers before I took my daughter Olivia to her preschool on Second Street so that I might have prepared her for the tragic sight in front of her school — slaughtered trees, their branches strewn haphazardly in the middle of the street, their stumps still full of sap, a testament to the fact that they were living and thriving only hours before. My daughter was beyond herself in her grief at the loss of the trees and was unable to attend her school. What a truly sad day this is, and so symbolic of our current administration’s lack of concern for humanity and our planet. I am so proud of the Treesavers valiant effort to save these beautiful trees. As my daughter and I stood crying with the trees, a police officer said I should take my daughter away from the area (in front of her own school) as I was traumatizing her. Yes, it was traumatic. Yet, it is better to be able to feel and mourn and honor living things than to just walk away and pretend something like this did not happen. I am thankful for my daughter’s kind and compassionate heart for all living things. She will plant new trees and seeds everywhere. She is our future.
With love to all Treesavers.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 17, 2008. Read the original PDF.