I didn't want to get my hopes up, or get too excited, and just end up setting myself up for dissapointment. Would something positive come out of this whole event, leave us with a lesson to learn, not only for my kids, but also myself? Something along the lines of principal, honesty, love for all nature, respect, justice?

My stance has not changed, not since what happened to our Willow on Friday. The man promised to come, and he made good on his word. Ed stopped by. He took one glance at the remains of Willow, and immediately recognized the damage done, confirming it had been one of his mowers. He also noted that Willie was in fact the one working our pond on Friday.

He politely pointed out that, when his company bid on the property, the bid if for straight mowing, and not to go around any trees, which is the sole reason we are asked not to plant anything on this area. However, he also recognized that this does not mean that they are to uproot anything we might actually plant on this area. If our doing so presented a true challenge for them to do their job, then the matter would be taken through the appropriate channels. He said my tree presented no such challenge, and that he was sorry that this happened, that it simply shouldn't have, and that he will be getting us a new tree.

Willie the Willow Slayer? Well, simply put, he's in trouble.

I'm pleased to be getting a new tree. I'm happy that I'll be able to share the good news with my children, and a wrong has been righted in the most positive way. Ed was a nice man, and has brought a smile to my face today. Yes, I remain sad about my Willow. But look at the picture. Do you see what I see? I didn't want to get too excited about this either, but it seems to me I have not been the only one doing some fighting. :o)