COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS

by member Mary Jo Berger, recited at the Tu B'shevat Jam on Friday, February 6

DID YOU EVER IMPERSONATE A TREE?
I DID: AN OAK, SWINGING MY LIMBS AT A HALLOWEEN DANCE

WAS YOUR LIFE THREATENED FOR HUGGING A TREE?
MY FRIEND’S WAS. SHE FLED FROM HER HUSBAND

HAVE YOU MADE LOVE ON THE FOREST FLOOR?
TRY IT, LOOKING UP AT THE MULTITUDE OF LEAVES BACKLIT BY THE SUN

IS THERE ONE TREE YOU CHERISH SEEING?
MINE IS A DWARFED BIRCH IN FRONT OF EPIPHANY CHURCH, WHERE
MY MENTOR WAS MEMORIALIZED

DO YOU KNOW A GROVE YOU CAN’T KEEP OUT OF YOUR MIND?
THOSE EVERGREENS ON THE RESEVOIR RIDGE ARE ETCHED ON MINE.
I ALWAYS MEANT FOR THEM TO BE ON PAPER FOR MY MOTHER

HAVE YOU PLANTED ANY?
ESHKOLIOT TREES IN THE SOIL OF THE KIBBUTZ
CAUSED MY FINGERS TO SWELL AND CRACK OPEN.
SO I HAD TO STOP PLANTING, AND MY SOUL CRIED

PICKED ANY?
THE HEAD OF THE PARDEZ SAID WE COULD ONLY SING IF WE HAD THREE TAPOOZIM IN HAND

DECORATED THEM?
WITH MY CHILDHOOD FRIENDS

HUNG PRAYERS FROM THEM?
WITH MY STUDENTS IN JAPAN

DRUNK FROM ONE?
VERMONT MAPLE

DID YOU EVER FEEL BLESSED BY AN ARC OF TREES UNDER WHICH YOU PASSED?
I DID. EMERGING FROM THAT TREACHEROUS MAUI ROAD, I SAW BEFORE ME
AN OLD MASTER’S PAINTING COME TO LIFE, AND,
DRIVING THROUGH IT, I KNEW I WOULD RETURN.
AND I HAVE, EVEN WITHOUT GOING BACK.

I AM BLESSED.