I knew right away it hadda be yer tree, Bobertz, the moment I saw the thread title. You got a rustic style of speakin' that I can spot from ten miles away, old buddy...when it's in print, I mean.

So you lost the big tree, huh? Too bad. Big trees are good to have. First off, you can climb 'em. That's what I do. Shinny up the old trunk, swing from branch to branch, clamber up to the highest bough that'll hold me...take a gooood look around the neighborhood. See if I can spot any good lookin' dames hangin' out the washing or trimmin' the hedge. Then I let out a good loud SCREEECH!!! Just to let folks know it's me up there.

Sometimes I take a book up there, detective novels are good, and sit on a high branch and read for an hour or so.

It saddens me to think that you will not be able to do this no longer now that the lightnin' wrecked yer oak tree.

- Chongo