One in a Million Tree located in the playground of Holy Names School.
It was not hard picking that one tree. My uncle and I went for a drive deep into a neighborhood off North Parkway. He had been recently diagnosed with a terminal cancer. It was a quiet drive until he pounded his fist on the door and grinned a gold crown grin. He brought us to a school. “I can’t believe it’s still there! That Tree!” I imagined it would be the tree that witnessed a first kiss or where he studied. I am quite the naive person. “That’s the tree that I kicked someone’s a** under!” Another story involving broken noses and black eyes. “I can’t believe it’s still there.” I could see the dirt rolling in the wind and the roots tripping up the feet of the unruly school children. I could see them both taking refuge under its forgiving shade but pine needle punishment. The dust trailed as we drove back home. I shared the story with my dad after my Uncle passed. He looked at me and snickered, that’s the tree that he got his a** kicked under. Which makes it even more entertaining, because that’s how he would have planned it. – Mandy Dodson
