~more views of the Earlysville White Oak~

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I went to visit my Father on Saturday - just a quick visit to say hello and take him to lunch at his favorite italian spot.  He was doing okay, but since his brief illness in December, he hasn't quite regained his mobility, and from what I've observed (and others have shared with me) the same cognitive level - there is just this generalized sense of decline.  He enjoyed lunch - he ordered a huge calzone that he thought was yummy, and he took leftovers home with him.  He asked me if I was staying the night, and I told him that I had to return to my place outside of DC.

For me it was a strange visit, but for an unexpected reason:  I realized as I was driving to Earlysville that it was the first time that I went to visit a parent for something as simple as lunch - I returned back to my place in the DC area soon after I dropped him off at his home with  his care provider.  I've have always lived out of state, since I graduated from college - and visiting generally meant loading up or boarding the dogs, and staying overnight for a few days.  This has especially been the case since my Mother's illness and passing, and my Father's emerging dementia.

It was a luxury, this short visit.

 I also stopped, parked my car, and took more images of the Earlysville White Oak.  It's a comforting habit, these visits to a wonderful old tree.

Links to a video and more images of this wonderful tree can be found here.

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Comments

[Christopher C NC]

That's some trunk. Have you been getting closer to the tree over the years as in walking over to it? And I hope the trees' caretakers don't let that ivy get out of hand. If they do, visit with some pruners in your pocket.

[Janet, The Queen of Seaford]

I will send you the write up soon on its history from Remarkable Trees, company came and I put the book up.. oops.

[Elephant's Eye]

'it was a luxury this short visit' - my mother is still clear in her mind, mostly, but she is getting frail. We go to Cape Town for lunch and it takes us all day, with the weekly food shopping.
Catching up on your blog as you have just sent a visitor my way.