Tree huggers

One of several tree stories from the NY Times:

Carl Ballenas
168th Place near 83rd Avenue
Jamaica Hills, Queens
Two Japanese maples
8 years old

Medicine has been in my family for generations. My brother works in an E.R. in Massachusetts, my sister is a pediatrician in Portland, my mother was a midwife and my father was a doctor. So I named the two trees after the twin saints Cosmas and Damian, who were healers. Officially they’re the patron saints of physicians, pharmacists, chemists, surgeons, midwives — and barbers.

My father died in the spring of 2006. He was cremated in Peru, but a cousin of mine brought up some of his ashes, and I sprinkled them around the base of the trees.

This year it’s exciting because the trees are finally touching each other. They’re forming an arch over the walkway. Trees are amazing. They grow old with you.