As you may or may not know, my parents died while working in Tunis, Tunisia. My father was the principal of an American international school and my mother was a third-grade teacher.
A month after they died, the school planted two olive trees on campus in their memory. It was a lovely gesture and my sister, husband and I were to attend the dedication ceremony. I often think about those trees, what they symbolize and how they came to be.
American Cooperative School of Tunis – November, 2007
Two months later, my husband worked with our gardener to find an olive tree for our backyard and gave it to me as a Christmas gift. It is the most thoughtful gift I have ever received. I love that tree and enjoyed watching it flourish.
Pregnant with Lucas – April, 2009
Two years and a baby later, my husband opened his own car dealership and we moved.
Our moving day – December, 2011 (Lucas is 1 1/2)
The tree was one of the things I was most worried about because we weren’t going to take it with us. Until we got settled in a new city, we would be renting. Mercifully, the gentleman that bought our house said the olive tree could stay until we purchased a new home.
This past February, the new owner changed his mind, got a puppy who enjoys digging at the tree and decided he wanted to do something else with the yard space that has become my tree’s home.
My husband reached out to our old gardener and other tree removal companies and a couple of weekends ago with the help of a good friend, relocated my tree to the backyard of our rental home.
Moving day for the tree – February 19, 2012
It looks a lot different; sad, completely traumatized and barren, but we are hopeful that it will hang in there and someday flourish again.
My tree today, one month after being uprooted
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What a thoughtful gift! And what a terd head the guy is that bought your house. I can’t believe he made ou move the tree at the last minute. I’m glad it’s there safely with you now though!
It’s nice to have it, I just hope it makes it!
Oh, and it wasn’t at the last minute. The new owner let us keep it at our old house for over a year, which was very kind of him. And to be fair, he gave us a month to remove it. Still a huge pain!
May your olive tree flourish again – with love, it will. xo
That’s my hope. Poor tree.
I can feel how much it means to you, and I am hoping it will feel your love and grow beautifully for you.
Thank you, I really love it. We’ve been told by experts it may take six months or so. 🙁
I hope it snaps out of it soon. Beautiful pregger pic!!
Thank you, on both accounts.
With love, it will. I can feel how much it means to you.
It is so special to me. I’ll keep you posted.
This is so touching and heartful, Tonya. Sending much love to you, and your tree.
Thank you, Galit. It is a part of me now.
What a sweet gesture — and knowing what I know of olive trees, as long as you’re kind to it, it’s going to flourish.
Thank you, I hope you’re right!
I hope your tree comes back to life and that one day soon you buy a house that it can live at forever.
That is my hope too!
So sweet to bring it with you. Hopefully it can find a new forever home soon!
That is my hope too. Thank you.
That is an incredible gift and it’s great that you were able to get it back! And you look awesome in the pic where you’re pregnant! Wow!
Thank you. I HAD to have a mommy-to-be photo with my tree. 🙂
You’ve got a pretty thoughtful guy (and a pretty cute one in that tree!) I’m sure your tree will make it.
I’m partial to all three, but especially the boys. 🙂
I always think of your mom and dad when I see olive trees and I am glad you have yours with you again. xo
It looks awful right now, but I’m hoping it survives. Sigh…
oh. I am just swimming in tears about this. It’s almost like where you are right now…waiting for that tree to green and produce and that is making me HOPEFUL and HAPPY for you…I just know that the tree is going to bring you good things because it is back where it belongs…with you.
xoxo
Thank you, Kir, I HOPE you are right. It’s a beautiful tree when it’s big, full and lush. I’m looking forward to seeing it that way again soon.
Oh, I’m so glad you were able to move it. I hope it comes back stronger than ever.
Thank you. My fingers and toes are crossed. I love my tree. And I miss it.
I love your new tree! 😀
I went to ASIJ from fourth to sixth grade. Me and my friends would eat lunch under the two olive tree’s every time the weather was warm. We would always stop and look at the plaques. Some of our teachers knew your parents, and they told us about what the tree’s meant.
I really hope the new tree has flourished 🙂
Thank you for your comment. I’m happy to hear that you enjoyed the olive trees on the ACST campus. That truly warms my heart. My olive tree is doing beautifully… flourishing and growing tall and strong. It’s a survivor!
Dear Tonya,
The olive trees on the ACST campus are growing so much! They look so beautiful! My daughter was in your mom’s class one school year before the tragedy happened. Now she is in 10th grade and she sees the trees every day. We never forgot your parents! Is your olive tree growing?
“Apa pasal tiba-tiba cari Hani ni.Selalunya batang hidung pun tak nampak.Kalau nak duit baru nampak”sindir Hani.