I want to talk about one family and its special old friend who had never spoken a single word to any of them, but had heard — and maybe healed — so much.

A huge, very old oak tree stood in their front yard. It stood right out in front of that big old ‘wrap around’ front porch. So many older homes always had that big porch. That tree had grown up with their children. In fact, it had that big, sturdy limb that just needed a swing hanging on it. Over the years, it had held many rope swings and tire swings. There was a worn, bare spot underneath.

That front porch also had that big porch swing. Parents first, who became grandparents, pushed the kids in the swing, watching them fly high into the air.

Now, for the best and very beautiful part of this story: One of those young lads who so loved this old tree and its huge limb and grew up swinging on it now pushes his own children on its swings. He gave his parents a very special anniversary gift. That young man hung a porch-swing type of swing — two-passenger — on that big old limb for his parents. It swings much like the swings on the big ferris-wheels we see at carnivals and such.

One of the grandkids said, “grandma and granddad are so cute, still lovebirds at heart.”

Today’s hurry-scurry world is really missing so very, very much. A point to ponder: Henry Ford once said “Whether you believe you can or believe you can’t, you’re probably right.”

— Aunt Norie, PO Box 265, Tonganoxie, KS 66086; auntnorie@att.net