Your tree, my hammock, a love story

Dear City Forestry Department,

Recently the city pruned the branches off the trees in my neighbourhood, including the tree in my front law. Now I realize you are experts in such matters. I realize you make decisions based on  many factors, such as the health of the tree and safety of citizens. I know my tree has spots on it's leaves. I try to rake them up in order to prevent the disease from returning the next year. but regardless of those spots, my tree is doing pretty good. 

My tree - your tree rather,  is probably one of the most important parts of my home, and one of the best parts of my life in Ottawa. You see I hang my hammock from that tree. I do it in such a way as to use a wide seat-belt strap that easily undos so that I can remove it every night  - and protect the tree at the same time. I hammock in that tree as soon as the snow melts and I hammock every fair night after work and on weekends until the snow returns the following fall. I haven't taken a summer vacation in the last few years - because I kid you not - hammocking for a few hours every evening takes all of life's stresses away. I save my vacation for march ( and I bring my hammock with me).

From there I watch all my neighbours walking home from work, I watch the kids play in the street and I watch the sun set. Because of that hammock I know the face of almost everyone in the neighbourhood. Some of them come over and chat with me and we catch up. Total strangers. I watch as many people turn their head and smile, like seeing someone in a hammock is almost as satisfying and relaxing as being in one yourself.  Because my hammock is in my front lawn, on a corner lot  - I spend a lot of time thinking about and engaging with the people who live around me.  I also spend a lot of time staring at and loving that tree. 

You chopped down the branch I hang my hammock from.  

Now I realize you must of had a really good reason for that - and what is done, is done. But it was a big branch - a strong one,  and a healthy one. and of all branches I wish you could of just taken any other one. I assume your staff took a highly scientific approach to pruning this branch which did not hang over a sidewalk - but over our yard. I assume, without removing this branch - people and plants everywhere could of perished. Right? 

Anyway, I'm not sure if this kind of sad story could be avoided. I'm not sure if you had notified me about the pruning if I could of contacted you and we could of discussed it. I'm not sure if that would of changed things. I assume you had a really good reason for doing it. I assume you had no choice. 

But I just wanted to let you know, how much I loved your tree. 

And how much I am going to miss that one branch you chopped off. 

Yours sincerely,
Mae Callen