Talking Trees at the Table

Boring?

I didn't tell any of my groups we would be doing a Tree Theme.  They might not have come.  The idea of talking trees doesn't sound very stimulating.

Who Doesn't Like A Tree?

Everyone can find something good to say about trees.  When I asked my Alzheimer's group to tell me something good about a tree, Ro smiled softly and began, "I think that I shall never see a poem lovely as a tree..." 

Childhood Memories

The stories of kids and trees were the best.  Ken said he was a city boy, but remembered trying to jump from a wall to a tree as a young boy. His small hands lost their grip on the branch and he fell, cutting his head.  Someone in our group asked if he still had a scar and Ken laughed, "Pay me a quarter and I'll show you the scar!"  He chuckled again as he remembered another detail. "My mother nicknamed me monkey after that."

Music

When I asked my group at the center who could think of a song about a tree, the group looked at me blankly.  Then Robert, who is always hidden under his WWII Vet hat spoke softly.  He isn't one for singing solo in a group, but when he started  up, just speaking the words, "...like a tree planted near the water, I shall not be moved..."  the group began to recognize the old African American spiritual.  It was a touching moment to see this group singing and swaying together, even those like me, who only vaguely recognized the song.

Click below to hear Mississippi John Hurt sing, I Shall Not Be Moved.    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beg0bM_x3D8

Apple Tree

I played a few theme related recordings and got different reactions.  The younger crowd loved the livelier version of "Lemon Tree" by Herb Alpirt. My older and quieter seniors liked the Peter, Paul and Mary version.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLhYghzNfII  (Although none remembered the folk trio)  The only song that everyone seemed to recognize was, "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree".  This isn't the first time those Andrew Sisters have gotten a few to their feet, dancing at the Community Center.  

Underneath a Tree

We ended up having quite a discussion about sitting under trees!  Everyone was talking at once trying to name the special person they would want to sit with underneath a tree.  We had to "pass the apple" around the table to help us take turns sharing.  One dear woman who spoke no English had her friend interpret.  She smiled and pointed up to the sky and said she would want to be under the tree with her mother... who is now in heaven.

Another, less serious member of our group, grinned and lifted her eyebrows dramatically.  "I'll never tell!"

Tree Climbers

We started talking about what you might see in a tree.  We began with the obvious... fruits, nuts and leaves and moved on to swings and birdhouses, nests and colored lights. About every possible animal was named and then someone mentioned a tree house!  Which of course lead to kids in trees!  There were only a few women in my 4 groups who remembered climbing trees.  I guess that's not surprising.  That reminded me to be appreciative that I was born in a day when girls climbed trees. I was a big fan of tree climbing.

We thought about kids today and wondered how many have never climbed a tree. Some kids might not have a tree to climb, but most just don't have the time to climb.

Debates

In one of my groups we pondered the old question, "If a tree falls in the woods and no one is there to hear... does it make a sound?"  It didn't take long for the jury to agree, "Of course there would be a sound!" 

Spanish Moss

Another group got off on a debate about Spanish moss being a parasite.  The group finally decided no. 

Roots

In my hospital group we got off on a different kind of subject.  Our discussion of tree roots lead to family roots.   

Family Roots

 Jon, who was new to our group said he began exploring his family roots after his father died.  "My father never wanted to talk about where he came from because Dad was adopted. But I wanted to know." It was touching to hear the group support Jon.  They were glad he cared enough to explore his history.  "Family history is important!"  Margie encouraged.

Sweet Dorothy leaned in to share.  "I have a lot of family history." She began with a smile. Dorothy always shares positive stories, even though she grew up in a poor, black family in Mississippi. 
Ken, softly interrupted. "You wouldn't have to go back very far and you'd have slaves in your family history."  The words sound harsh in print and I did cringe when I heard Ken speak.  But I was touched by the reaction.  Dorothy turned to Ken and smiled, "I know, that's true."   These 2 come from such different worlds (Ken from the Bronx) but they share a warmth and trust and positive spirit that I have come to admire.

Making a Tree

There were no discussions of family roots with my group at the Center, but there was plenty of sharing.  We got off on a project making "leaf tags" to decorate a bare tree branch.  I just threw out paper, pens and yarn and they jabbered away as they worked. I laughed to watch this group, as comfortable as siblings at a dinner table, sharing pens and fighting over the scissors and laughing over stories.

What did I learn?

It doesn't take much.  I don't need a tricky theme or fancy art supplies or props.  This was one of those subjects that brought people together.  It didn't matter about the age or health or skills or education of the people who gathered.  Everyone had a little something to say bout trees!