{"id":270,"date":"2014-02-12T22:02:08","date_gmt":"2014-02-12T22:02:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.evefleishman.com\/blog\/?p=270"},"modified":"2014-02-12T22:07:06","modified_gmt":"2014-02-12T22:07:06","slug":"heartbroken-on-valentines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.evefleishman.com\/blog\/heartbroken-on-valentines\/","title":{"rendered":"Heartbroken on Valentine’s"},"content":{"rendered":"

Oh let me go down old Cottage Row<\/em>\"photo\"<\/a>
\nOf days gone by San Francisco<\/em>
\nTwilight looms and mystery blooms<\/em>
\nCamaraderie with the redwood trees<\/em>
\nAnd a reverie for the rising Moon<\/em><\/p>\n

A few months ago I started teaching a class on Monday and Wednesday mornings down in the Fillmore Jazz District. It’s about a 20 minute walk from my place, and I was thrilled to be able to take my route through Cottage Row, a mini-park nestled in between two busy city streets. Twice a week I could sing to the five small redwood trees that inspired the bridge lyrics of my song, City Light.<\/a><\/p>\n

Today they cut down the trees and I am heartbroken. No more redwoods on Cottage Row. I’m not sure why. Last May they each had a sign on them that said they would be removed. I called the Parks Department but never got an answer. Maybe they were diseased or dying, I don’t know. They looked healthy to me. The signs disappeared soon after and I was lulled into thinking the trees would be safe.<\/p>\n

\"photo\"<\/a>So here we are nine months later. I felt like crying this morning when I saw they were gone. Not much to sing about on Cottage Row right now. I am reminded of the impermanence of life and the pain that sometimes comes with change.<\/p>\n

I guess I must admit to a love affair with trees. They have entered more than a couple of my songs, including a gentle ballad by Eve & Mare<\/a> which opens with “My favorite thing to see is the wind waving through the trees.” It’s true. I can’t think of anything much finer.<\/p>\n

So let’s sing once more to celebrate these beautiful trees. My heart is heavy today, but I will always love to think about them whenever I sing my song. And please, for me, go hug a tree!<\/p>\n