JPPENS

My solitary fitness walks have become not only a necessary part of my life for wellness but the past decade it has allowed me the peace and calm I find from seeing "my tree".  It majestically owns a mountain ridge, beaming its rounded crested image through every season and welcomes me with my silent prayers of peace, hope, and tears of fear. Those who know me also know of my tree as it lays witness to all who drive into our community. Some have asked since they know I talk to my tree, does it talk to you? My response is always the same..."no, it does not talk to me but it whispers to my heart"... As the most trying times of my life in America continue to show themselves to me every single day I find I have to actually talk myself out of frustration, out of anger, out of anxiousness and into remembering who I am, how I struggled to be here and what I value; and, still I want to rage! Rage against what I see happening in this country and to its people.   The citizens ...