I love tulip trees

Tulip trees remind me of my granddad and grandmom. We’d better not call them grandpa and grandma – they let us know in no uncertain terms they didn’t like that. In the yard next to their civil war era home stood a giant tulip tree that was at least 24-30 inches in diameter. I can’t count the number of times we climbed that tree and tossed the unopened blossoms pretending they were hand grenades. My granddad loved that tree. I’m not sure why, he just did. Perhaps because of the shade it cast in summer over their kitchen. I just don’t know.

Occasionally we have some tulip leaves blow into our yard this time of year. Whenever I see one I’m always reminded of my granddad. If he were still alive I believe he would be 121 years old on Christmas day. My granddad was a very kind and gentle man who didn’t say much. During the great depression he owned a general store in New Hope, MO. He and my grandmom fed people in the area by giving them food and extending them credit. When he ran out of supplies and they couldn’t pay him back, he had to close the business. Years later when the depression was over no one came back to return the kindness. Knowing them, they wouldn’t have expected it. It’s just who they were.

I could tell you many more stories about my grand parents, but I may wait until I see another tulip leaf turn up in the yard.