So…

So, Dewey and I haven’t been to Lady Bird Johnson Park for a while. We went this afternoon, and walking less than a half mile down the Greenway, Dewey stopped and refused (as much as a 25 pound dog can vs a 224lb - don’t judge - man holding the leash) to continue walking forward. This is not unusual, but normally it’s because he wants to go on another path we’ve been on or because I’ve dragged his butt out in bad weather. Today is great weather and there’s only one path, but..okay, we’ll call it a holiday…amd yes, he already pooped…so why not? If you can’t be lazier than a dog, what’s the point in life? Okay, I digress. So, then I saw a guy leaning against a tree whom we evidently passed moments earlier without noticing. I waved and he walked over to chat. His name is Rafa. He’s 74. Rafa was pissed off kids had graffiti’d some rocks on a parallel trail. I haven’t physically waved down anyone to bitch about the same vandalism, but I know I’ve done it here, so we commiserated a bit. Cutting it short(er)..Rafa and I had a bonding moment and started talking about the park and almost simultaneously we both mentioned “the tree.” There is a heritage oak tree at LBJ which I have also posted about previously. It’s a one of a kind remaining Live Oak and magnificent. I truly lack superlatives to describe this tree. We decided, with Dewey’s navigational approval, to walk to the tree. Along way, I estimated the tree at 400-500 years old and Rafa stopped suddenly. “4 or 5? 1500 to 2000 years old!” He declared defiantly. “This tree is a cathedral!” His reverent pronouncement admittedly made me pause and say to myself in not-so-divine wonderment, “You’re about to walk into the woods alone with an elderly man with hygiene issues whom you met while he was leaning against a tree ranting about graffiti to admire an old tree. Didn’t see that coming today.” But… Dog is leading the way, I always suspected I was dyslexic. Anyway, we get to the tree without anyone dying….no podcast here…move along. Turns out, Rafa used to own a nursery and knows his stuff about trees. He sold his nursery some years back to a Korean church which is still there…about a 1/2 mile from our house. Rafa told me about the tree and how it has wondrously survived so much. He comes there to pray. He climbs it…did I mention he’s 74? Dewey and I haven’t been to Lady Bird Park in a while. Assuming it’s okay with Dewey, we’re going back soon. I want to learn more the tree…and Rafa. They seem to be a lot alike.