an ode to Lori's tree

This is the time of year when I always start rethinking my lifelong loyalty to autumn as my favorite time of year. I never completely change my mind because the relief of autumn after an exhaustingly humid Missouri summer is just too awesome and too long anticipated. The crackly leaves, the crisp air - love it.

But like I said - I'm in rethinking phase at the moment. Just look at this tree.

It sits proudly at Lori's house down the street, and I can see it from my office window. That's fancy work-at-home talk for back porch patio doors that are broken and no longer open. But I forgive them for it now that they give this as a view. I even forgive the child who opened the door too fast and too hard too many times until it jammed forever in one final angry protest. Magnolia trees in spring have to be one of the most beautiful things EVER. Just look at one for 2 seconds - just drive by it for goodness sake, and see if your troubles don't melt like lemon drops. Which is my only complaint. Their glory is so fleeting. The blooms don't last nearly long enough. I know several houses in town that have them, and I always take those roads on purpose this time of year. But somehow I never noticed before that I could see Lori's from my very own window. It's so hard to be afraid or to feel hate, in this world that usually makes both of those things so easy, when it gives us trees like this. Thank God for spring.