The Lindens

The Linden trees are budding. There are five of them planted in my yard right now, and someday I'll plant four more along the park strip. I have always loved Linden trees. They are a shade tree with heart-shaped leaves; in the summer time little yellow flowers blossom on them and fill the air with a fragrant sweet scent. The smell reminds me of summer nights, and home, and my dad.

My dad loved Linden's too. They reminded him of the parks in Munich, Germany where he served his mission.When I was in 3rd or 4th grade, he planted six or seven Lindens in the backyard close to the house, and then had the cement for the patio poured around them, in the hopes that one day they would grow up to shade the entire patio and he would have a cool spot to sit and watch while the grandkids played in the yard.

His wish came true. The Lindens are as tall as my parents' house now, and create a canopy over the patio. They smell fantastic in the summer. The adults gather underneath at family parties, while the grandkids play. Only Dad isn't there to sit in the shade with us. I miss him like crazy, still, even after 13 years. And I think of him at the most random times, like when the Lindens are budding.