Ultimately she knew she couldn't keep it. The roots were causing too many problems with her soil (not that she knew exactly what problems or how to explain them, she wasn't keen on plants) and it wasn't just that - it looked all wrong. It was arching over her driveway, leaving blossoms and bark just littering the pathway. No. It would definitely have to go.
She then wondered if she could dig it all up and perhaps...donate it? She felt stupid. She didn't know if people did such things. Yes, surely people dug up perfectly good trees and donated them to nurseries all the time. Or maybe parks. She didn't know. Perhaps her mom might want it. She did love plants after all. But then the dogs always managed to chew things up. Dogs were always doing things like that though. Who knew.
Maybe she should just hire someone to dig it up - stump and all - have them throw into a chipper and then use it for mulch. That sounded like an idea. It would be reused for a nature-y purpose, surely then it wouldn't be bad to get it out of her front yard.
She felt like one of those old ladies that had thirty-eight cats and didn't want anyone or anything on their property. Though she had to admit to herself that she really didn't like children all that much. Michael had always told her she would grow out of that. The thought of having children with Michael made her less queasy, but that had all changed now. She thought for a moment about what Michael would say about the Dogwood. Sure. She knew.
"It isn't hurting anyone or anything. Just let it alone."
Michael knew how she had felt about the Dogwood. It's funny that she should have to think about what he would have to said about it. Yes, Michael was, and always had been, the eternal optimist. Maybe that's why he had liked the Dogwood.
So, what to do? What to do? Become the crazy cat lady or venture towards optimism? Well, she knew one thing for sure: Michael was gone and so the Dogwood had to go too. She had no room for petals of optimism or Dogwood blossoms in her life. She would stick with her mulch and her clean driveway. She'd accept that over laughing children and donated trees. Yes, she'd accept that.
Sometimes those most worthy of love are not made happy by it. ~Dangeous Liaisons
It is on the strength of observation that one finds a way; so we must dig and delve unceasingly. ~Claude Monet 1840-1926