Looking out at the white birch tree in our backyard this morning, I realized that for some months now I’ve been completely misperceiving it. All winter, while sitting in the family room to read and journal, I’d look from time to time at a particular section of the white birch tree in our yard. All winter, I saw that section in a certain way.
There’s a branch (call it Branch A) that comes out of the tree toward the back of the house. This branch then seemed to sprout two different subbranches, Branch B curving down to the left and Branch C curving down to the right. After dropping a few inches, each bends to become parallel to the ground, and these two branches continue to grow, in opposite directions, for several feet. The two downward curves formed an inverted U with long arms reaching to either side. I found the shape strangely appealing, which is why I looked at it often.
Looking at the tree today, I realized that I was mistaken in thinking that both B and C grew out of Branch A. Branch B does indeed come out of Branch A, but Branch C does not. It begins, like Branch A, at the trunk of the tree (a bit higher up and a shade to the right). It crosses behind Branch A before beginning its downward curve. From where I sat, and perhaps in the different light of winter, the connection to the trunk was not visible, which is why it seemed to sprout from Branch A. But that's an illusion. I realized that today, when seeing the tree from a different spot in the room, through a different window.
A cautionary tale. A reminder not to trust, too much, our senses, or, better, our judgment, but to look at life from different perspectives.
Or it's just a hint that I need to get my eyes checked.
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Comments
so good that you remind us to
look again
look again
and
again
Kimmy Sue: the third eye reminds me of an old Twilight Zone episode, in which a guy working the counter at a diner is revealed, in the end, to be an alien by the third eye in the middle of his forehead. Imagine how sharp tri-scopic vision must be!
Also one of your comments reminds me of one of my favorite bumper stickers -
Don't believe everything you think.
I enjoy your writing and your sensibilities, your lovely nature.