Can you tell that I love trees?

Today I join my fellow bloggers in "serving up a slice" 
to the Tuesday Slice of Life sponsored by 
Two Writing Teachers.

Several weeks ago, a friend told me that my beloved trees outside my classroom window would be disappearing - all in the name of progress!  It's made the last few weeks with the blooms of spring even more poignant, knowing that they will not be there next year.  Thank goodness, I won't be there either.  I love that my classroom window includes a view of these trees year round.  In the fall I watch the leaves fall as my favorite season of the year arrives.  Sometimes we get the rare treat of snow covered branches during winter months.  But my favorite tree time is springtime when these trees take their individual turns at sharing their beautiful blossoms with me and my students.  In 2013, I shared tree photos in my Lifted Up post. And this year during March SOL, I shared my Tree Philosophy 101 comparing the trees and their growth patterns to my students.

And then . . . I held my breath . . . especially when a friend 

indicated that the "ugly tree" might be dead.  

I watched, and waited, checked on it during spring break, 

and finally, last week the blooms appeared.

Each day the tree is more beautiful, but I shuddered today when the wind whisked away more than its proper share of beautiful pink blooms.   Normally, I'm content knowing that the gorgeous blooms will return again next spring.  However, my trees will be cut down so that portables can be moved into their place.  Our portable village is being relocated, a new road is being built (where the portables are now), and construction will begin for a new part of our campus.  Those of us who have been in the front of the building will eventually be in the back of the building, and until the construction is complete (two years down the road), the portables will be positioned outside our classrooms (20 feet away).  I picked a good time to retire!

In a meeting last week our administrators mentioned that the trees will probably be cut down before school is out.  I pray that the wheels of progress move slowly so that I won't be there.  But just in case, I'm planning to pull the shades and play loud music.  My students and I will refuse to witness or listen to this sad event.   In the interim, keep your fingers crossed for us that the dirty deed gets done after school hours (no, I'm usually still there then).  What I'm hoping for is that the wheels of progress turn very slowly (think July) so that I can be spared viewing this tragedy.