"A small stump can cast a long shadow."

Many of you that have possibly followed my facebook posts, probably realize that I am a bit of an early morning person. The freshness of a new day, mother nature exploding, spending time with our cat 'Puck,' and enjoying my early morning coffee, have always been a neat time for me.

On a recent early morning stroll around our home, I stopped to look at a 4 foot tree stump in our back yard. It is the remainder of a Bradford Pear tree that I planted years ago to honor our Mother after she had passed away in Florida. Bradford Pears are a very brittle tree and have a rather short life span. But they are a beautiful flowering tree in the Spring, and have a lovely symmetrical shape to them, much like that of a pear.

I recall a couple of summers ago, my Son and I were sitting in the driveway, watching the weather change as an evening thunderstorm was moving in. We were having rather heavy winds, when we heard a very loud crack, and really never realized where the sound came from.

Weeks later, when mowing what I call the 'Back Forty,' I noticed that the stately Bradford Pear had a huge crack near the center of the split trunk line. Immediately, I was able to assume that the unusual crack that Chris and I had heard weeks earlier, was the tree trunk cracking from the high winds.

Within a few short weeks and another evening thunderstorm, I awakened one morning to find half of the beautiful Bradford Pear tree on the ground. Another year later, we lost the remainder of the entire tree.

On both occasions, it took me hours to cut up the branches and tree trunks, so as to use it for small fire wood. When the last half of the tree was finally blown down, my small chainsaw labored with each additional 3 foot section that I sawed. By the time my undersized chainsaw finally gave up the ghost, there was about a 4 foot section of the tree trunk that remained, and it survives there as a daily reminder of my wonderful Mother. Thus, the real meaning of this story.

My Mother and I had so many things in common. She too, was very much a morning person and I remember so vividly the times when I would return from my 'Fairmont Times' morning newspaper route. We would sit for a hour or so, over fresh brewed cups of coffee and discuss everything from my school work to what ever was occurring in the family. Even to this day, I miss what she always called 'our morning talks.'

So when I speak of 'a small stump that can cast a long shadow,' this is my reference to the legacy that she left upon my life. There's never a moment in time that I look at the little 4 foot tree stump, that I don't stop and think of all the good times, and everything that I learned from this wonderful woman.

When I mention that she and I had so much in common, it amazes me when I actually stop to think about it. She and her mother alike, both had absolutely beautiful penmanship. I always tried to be able to write as beautifully as either of them. Mother, and my Grandmother, were both very artistic ladies. Over the years, I am convinced that what little bit of artistic abilities that I have, came from these two talented women.

You know, the more I think about it, I believe I'll just leave that little tree stump in our back yard. The shadow that is casted each evening by the setting sun, is a constant reminder of the impact that she had on my life, and the lives of all her children, grandchildren and the many friends that she left behind.

I guess I was named right after all. I carry her father's name with great pride, and owe so much to the lady that brought me into this wonderful world.

Rest in peace dearest Mother and know that your impact on my life is something I think about on a daily basis. Your life on earth was certainly much larger than that small little tree trunk, but the legacy that you left behind, and the shadow that you cast on the lives that you touched, will grow with every forthcoming generation.

Norma Carroll Cockerill Darden ~ Gone but never forgotten ~ " I love you Mom. "