Fortunately, tragedies at Medicine Spirit Ranch have been rare, that is until recent years. Linda, a very close friend and neighbor, and her grandson Luke have both passed away. Colonel Tom and his wife, Danese determined to build a memorial to celebrate their remarkable lives. This building of a tree memorial plaza took many hours in the hot Texas sun and yesterday we dedicated this memorial. Family and friends came for the event, many traveling long distances. They all came to remember and honor the lives of Linda and Luke.
I was asked to say a few words at the dedication. Colonel Tom was moved by my words and suggested I place them on this blog. I am only too pleased to honor his request. My heart is sad over losing a good friend and over the death of Luke who was only twenty years old and had just completed his freshman year at Harvard. He had such promise and would have accomplished so much.
Below are the words I used in my effort to honor the lives of these two wonderful people.
MEMORIAL TREE DEDICATION-July 20, 2024
Thank you, Tom, Danese, and family for allowing me to speak at your Memorial Tree Dedication. What a wonderful and creative way to memorialize two loved ones whose absence from our lives, leaves us with such deep sadness.
When I first learned of the idea of a memorial tree plaza and the opportunity to say a few words, the first thought that sprang to mind was from the lyric poem, Trees by Joyce Kilmer. After all who among us didn’t memorize this simple 12-line iambic pentameter poem that often was the final twelve lines to achieve the required memorized100-lines of poetry for an English class? While the poem has been criticized as being overly simplistic, when I reread the poem and like so many others, I found deeper meaning in it that seems fitting to share today.
The poem was written by Joyce Kilmer in 1913. Did you know that Joyce Kilmer despite the female name– was a man. Also, like Linda and Luke he was Roman Catholic and took his faith seriously. His family reported no specific tree inspired the poem, but that Kilmer perceived many trees possessed these special human-like qualities.
Let me refresh your memory on this brief poem, Trees.
I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth’s sweet Flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in Summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
So why plant a tree as a memorial? Well, without oxygen-producing trees we could not even breathe. Kilmer anthropomorphizes a tree in the second stanza by saying “whose hungry mouth is prest against the earth’s sweet flowing breast.”
It is from this good land where we stand today that sustenance is gained, but not only for this newly planted Mexican Sycamore tree. This ranch has been… and will continue to be …a pivot point for this family to gather… to play…to relax…to laugh…to remember, and …especially to love one another. Truly, these tranquil, wooded acres will provide not only physical sustenance for this tree, but also emotional sustenance for this family and the community of friends who visit them.
Kilmer depicts the tree as female raising her leafy arms to pray to God. While Kilmer’s tree had “hair” in which Robin’s nested, our memorial tree more likely will attract Mockingbirds, Hummingbirds, Sparrows, Painted Buntings, and Cardinals. It will be a tree full of life, striking color, and joyous bird calls.
As an aside, Trudy and Linda engaged in good-natured sparring over who attracted the most Hummingbirds to their feeders. What fun Tom and I had, watching their good-natured competition. Trudy and I are so pleased to learn that the Hummingbird feeder will now permanently reside within the spreading and praying branches of this Memorial tree.
And isn’t it fitting that this Memorial Tree will serve these birds as a home, as did Linda and Luke serve others in so many ways? And while we doubt much snow will ever lay on the bosom of this memorial tree as described by Kilmer, we can hope our memorial tree will receive much needed and life sustaining rain. The rain falling on our tree will represent a vivid symbol of renewal of our spirits and a watery cleansing of our residual sadness.
Kilmer’s expresses self-deprecatory comments about fools writing poetry but wisely states… that only God can make a tree. This God-inspired wonder of nature and the many other trees on this ranch will carry with them our memories of those departed.
I ask what better memorial could there be than a tree to remember and contemplate the lives of Linda and Luke?
I wish to share memories of Linda and Luke where both episodes, as it turned out, originated in the living room of the Norris home above the cliff. I vividly recall one evening crawling around on the floor with Luke, playing with a kit that taught the method of starting an intravenous drip. That evening Luke also shared his dreams of becoming a neurosurgeon and perhaps doing research in biomedical engineering. The possibilities that lay before him were incredible and virtually limitless. I’ll never forget Luke’s endearing smile, as he shared his hopes for his future and for helping others. The world has lost an incredible intellect, humanitarian, and a wonderful human being.
Linda also approached me one evening in her living room when Trudy and I visited for dinner. According to Colonel Tom, Linda for the first-time shared information, leading me to believe she was having a serious heart problem, angina pectoris. For such a private person as Linda to share these innermost concerns proved deeply gratifying for me. I felt honored that she trusted me enough to share her concerns. Linda described how the episodes were becoming more frequent and were limiting her ability to exercise or even take a walk. I remember how worried I was learning of her crescendo angina. Linda went on to seek sophisticated evaluation and ultimately underwent surgery for her complicated heart condition. We all know the sad outcome of those heroic medical efforts.
Today we dedicate this memorial tree in honor of Linda and Luke. And when we listen closely, the rustling of the leaves of this Mexican Sycamore become the sounds of two dearly departed souls who will continue to speak to us. Listen closely to these feint murmurings and when you do, remember Linda and Luke.
Our words today may add little value compared to the profound statement made by this tree patio and the long, hot, and sweaty labors that went into its creation. Linda and Luke will continue to live in our hearts and memories forever, and this tree patio will always remind us of their lives- lives that brought us so much joy and so much happiness.
MEMORIAL TREE DEDICATION-July 20, 2024
Views From Medicine Spirit Ranch 