Posted on by Todd Smith

DAY 31


DAY 31
05.05.07
TREE 37

Today is the first Saturday in May, the 133rd running of the Kentucky Derby. Being back in Louisville for this time of year has been great. Especially this weekend, I’ve been out a lot with friends allowing for more opportunities to climb trees outside of the Mary Anderson Center. Today I chose a tree on the property of my friend Drew’s parents’ house. It’s a big old tree that seems wider than it is tall. And the branches are as big, if not bigger, than the trunks of the trees I usually climb. So I didn’t expect to get too high. But what really held me back was the damp, mossy bark and the tiny little insects that wouldn’t leave me alone. So I was very frustrated I couldn’t get higher or further out, and annoyed by all the bugs. But, if I was looking for a tree to build a fort, or to lie all day and dream, this would be it… provided I have bug spray.

5-5-08:  Happy Cinco de Mayo!  Last year Mexican’s Independence day was completely overshadowed by the derby.  Though, I’ve been thinking about it this morning and I have recognized and remembered every year this date and it’s relationship to Mexico.  Yet, I know nothing of the real history and all I’ve ever done to celebrate is eat mexican food.  I lived in Tucson, AZ for many years growing up and it was a big deal there.  If I had learned the history in school I don’t remember it at all.  When I moved to Kentucky in the middle of fourth grade I got immersed in Kentucky history right away.  Maybe I just missed it in Arizona.  I imagine I may know more if I reach back into my brain and pull out some of the history I learned in my U.S. history class junior year of high school.  It’s funny what you remember from school when you don’t care about what you’re learning.  I feel I have a pretty good memory which is often very visual.  I can picture my classroom, where I sat in relation to friends, and many still images of moments that involved a pure emotional reaction.  But none of them are related to facts I learned from the subject of history.  I think I’ll take the time to read about the Mexican independence.

I had waited all day yesterday to climb a tree.  It was about 10:30 PM before I went out in the dark to find a tree.  I had eyed this one in my next door neighbor’s yard.  I knew it was going to involve a pretty good shimmy up a big trunk before I got to any branches.  When I got the trunk my eyes were just beginning to adjust to the dark.  I felt the tree and realized it was covered in a shaggy bark that breaks off easily.  This proved to be my down fall.  I went up and struggled every inch as it took way to much time to get a good hand grip.  I was less than a foot from the lowest limb but all my leg and arm muscles were shaking and fatigued.  I knew if my grip failed I would fall from this tree at least 15 feet.  My heart was racing and I was terrified.  I made the quick decision to bail and slid down back to the ground.  I had not felt that scared in a long time. 

I continued down my street to the development.  I pushed through the thorny bushes and walked blindly in dark looking for the faint silhouettes of tall tree trunks.  I found another covered in vines.  I did not want to continue to search in the dark for a better option for my tired muscles so I just started on this one.  A hackberry with dead branches at the bottom.  I battled the vines as they entangled my legs and shoulders.  The entire climb was a struggle but I reached the very top of the tree and had a temporary reprieve from the tiresome fight.  I almost didn’t want to come back down.  I was exhausted, bothered by allergies, and ready to be laying on the couch and relaxing.  I took some pictures with flash of the vines in the tree and of myself.  As you can see, my eyes are red and itchy… perpetually.  I finally climbed back down but stayed as far out from the trunk as I could on the small bendy limbs.  In doing so I learned that hackberry limbs, even the dead ones, can hold a lot of weight.  I walked back to the house, chest heaving as I ripped off as many layers as I could.  My arms felt scratched and I was covered in twigs and leaves, but I felt really good.  That saying: anything that doesn’t kill you makes you stronger… I think of that often after I’ve just finished a really challenging climb. 


2 Replies to “DAY 31”

  1. ads

    Today the ad at the bottom of your post was from google ads, which, as many people probably know, puts up ads based on the content of the page. All of the ads were for tree care and removal services. I found that interesting for some reason. Surprising fact: Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day, but the celebration of a victorious battle against France.

  2. Re: ads

    From Wiki:
    Cinco de Mayo (Spanish for “5th of May”) is primarily a regional and not an obligatory federal holiday in Mexico. The holiday commemorates an initial victory of Mexican forces led by General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín over French forces in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. The date is observed in the United States and other locations around the world as a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride.

    A common misconception in the United States is that Cinco de Mayo is Mexico’s Independence Day; Mexico’s Independence Day is actually September 16 (dieciséis de septiembre in Spanish), which is the most important national patriotic holiday in Mexico.

    WOW! I am a perfect example of that misconception or as Mr. Morris from my U.S History class would say, a misnomer.

    However, the eating of mexican food is a part of it:
    For the most part the celebrations combine food, music and dancing.

    I need to get my Dance on then!!!

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