Treewhispers

I know I’ve posted this image before but it really bares repeating with the story that goes behind the story.

Several years ago I was invited by a friend giving a performance to share the Treewhispers project during their intermission. No one in the audience knew I would be speaking. After a short introduction to the project I invited the audience to share a tree story on the paper rounds I had provided in the lobby. A young woman came up to me and asked me if I had glue or tape or something to attach a photograph. She pulled this photo of a tree out of her wallet and explained she’d been carrying it with her since high school. Now remember, no one knew I would be speaking about trees. I offered to xerox it or transfer it somehow for her. I’m guessing she was several years out of high school and it seemed that if she’d had it all this time it really must be precious. She said she really didn’t know why she’d been carrying it for so long but realized in that moment that this is where it should go and graciously offered up the photograph of her precious tree in San Jose…named Bob.