‘The Giving Tree’
Editor’s note: The children’s poetry book written by Shel Silverstein resonated with Lani so much, she decided to quote a passage for her annual year-end note.
And after quite a long time the boy came back again.
“I am sorry, Boy,” said the tree, “but I have nothing left to give you. My apples are gone.”
“My teeth are too weak for apples,” said the boy.
“My branches are gone,” said the tree. “You cannot swing on them.”
“I am too old to swing on branches,” said the boy.
“My trunk is gone,” said the tree. “You cannot climb.”
“I am too tired to climb,” said the boy.
“I am sorry,” sighed the tree.
“I wish that I could give you something … but I have nothing left. I am an old stump. I am sorry …”
“I don’t need very much now,” said the boy, “just a quiet place to sit and rest. I am very tired.”
“Well,” said the tree, straightening herself up as much as she could, “well, an old stump is good for sitting and resting. Come, Boy, sit down. Sit down and rest.”
And the boy did. And the tree was happy.
Time will change the physical world but not the gift of gratitude. I wish everyone personal peace, tolerance and mindfulness for the upcoming year.
Lani Kitching
Carbondale
Right-of-way reporting
With the prevalence of non-compliance with Carbondale’s municipal code regarding residents’ responsibility to keep sidewalks clear of snow, ice, slush, etcetera, it is important to know that our police department does not have a paper warning system. Instead of calling the police department or ordinance officer directly, the best way to have documentation of a report or complaint, ESPECIALLY REGARDING REPEAT OFFENDERS, is to call Garfield County Dispatch at 970-625-8095.
Laurie Loeb
Carbondale
Unbiased media
Despite the liberal lapdog media giving Kamala 85% positive coverage and the campaign wasting a billion dollars on propaganda, Trump won. Meanwhile, our U.S. version of Pravda dished dirt on The Donald 78% of the time.
Locally, GarCo citizens chose Wills and Samson, conservative stewards of sanity and a bulwark against the Californication of Denver.
So why, in a conservative majority county, the largest newspaper only has room for a Dem’s opinion column? Is the Post Independent an unbiased purveyor of journalism or an agenda driven liberal cabal?
The Dems used to be the working class heroes. Today, Trump’s Republicans are the peoples’ party. We used to trust the media, but this election validated Trump’s fake news branding of the charlatans.
The PI’s news cousin, The Sopris Sun gives much more coverage of diverse opinions. Aren’t liberals all about “DEI?” How about some diversity of opinions, some equity of access and more inclusion of conservative thought?
Don’t be so blue, get a clue.
Bruno Kirchenwitz
Rifle
Nightmare
I had a nightmare. I saw thousands of people trying to come in through the southern border. They all looked the same: overweight, orange in the face and with a giant comb over. They had attacked women, cheated on their taxes, stiffed the people who had worked for them and swiped thousands of state secrets. It is an invasion. They have to be deported. But no country will take them.
Patrick Hunter
Carbondale
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