Once there was a tree. . .
I love trees. I would hate to live in a place with no trees. I couldn’t breathe or think or sleep at night. I imagine it would be like living in a very high altitude spot where the oxygen is thin. The huge trees in our corner of Dallas are one of the best things about Munger Place. The trees and the porches, of course. They kinda go hand in hand.
My good friend Harry Gibson has one of the best trees and porches in Munger Place. Both are rich with history and provide shade from the Texas heat. And both selflessly give something to all who take the time to slow down and enjoy, whether it’s for a glass of wine on the swing, a chat on the old wooden pew beside the front door, or a peaceful stroll underneath his 100+ year old gnarly Vitek tree, currently loaded with aromatic purple blooms.
This amazing tree is the gateway to Harry’s porch. Twinkle lights underneath the canopy light the sidewalk in the night making his house seem like a constant gathering spot, which it is. He adjusts the lights from time to time, making sure the strands are positioned and working properly, trimming branches when the city insists the limbs are too low. Never would he think of cutting it down. Not even if he needed wood “to make a boat to sail away and be happy”.
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| The view from Harry’s Porch |
Lucy and Annabelle and I walk underneath Harry’s tree several times a day, always stopping to sniff and look at the branches that form a natural arbor. (They sniff, I look.) And straining on their leashes, the dogs always make a bee-line for Harry’s porch, where the water in his old birdbath is their favorite watering hole on a blazing hot day. In the afternoons, his porch is often overrun with friends – both the two legged and four legged variety. Sometimes we stop and sit even when Harry isn’t outside. You can always find what you need there.
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| Clyde |
Clyde, his adorable grandson, often plays around that tree, with his Tonka trucks and sidewalk chalk, while neighbors discuss Munger happenings and news. Harry regales everyone with stories from his past whether as a young man working in the union business, or the time he awoke to find a Dallas Cowboy cheerleader in his bed, or simply the details of his prior day’s lunch. He is a great cook at 81 years old. And he’s in good health, which he attributes to good bourbon on the porch with good ‘acquaintances’ near his favorite tree.
And the tree is happy.
talya
Musical Pairings:
George Strait, “Where the Sidewalk Ends”
Randy Newman, “You’ve Got a Friend in Me”
“And the tree was happy.” The Giving Tree, Shel Silverstein
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| Harry and Clyde |
Which is why Harry is the most interesting person I have ever met!! Thanks for writing about Harry, his trees, his porch and especially his Grandson Clyde. We are all richer people for knowing them! See you on Harry’s porch for “Happy Hour!” Harold
I agree!
Harry is quite a character. I love visiting with him and listening to the stories he has to tell. He always calls me Miss B A T or Talya’s Mom. Love his tree.
Great story, Talya. Makes me want to pack up and move me and the family to Munger Place.
The house across the street from us is for sale! Perfect!!! T.
As always, I enjoyed your blog today. You are so talented and you obviously bring out many emotions in those who read your blogs. Thanks!
Thank you Colene. I have the best neighbors in Dallas!
Now, wait just a minute. You can’t drop a bomb like “or the time he awoke to find a Dallas Cowboy cheerleader in his bed” and not regale us with some approximation of the story.
Be fair!
Harry could write a blog a day about his shenanigans! That’s a whole other story for another time. Let’s just say it involved a late night crazy party:)