My friend Benny, our little sprout, the trees and me

My friend Benny and I are a committed pair of arborphiles.

I thought I had made that word up when I impressed him with my use of it. But it turns out that arborphiles — people who have a deep respect for trees — already exist.

Benny shows his appreciation for trees by introducing himself to every. single. one. as we take our strolls through the neighborhood.

I don’t mind because it gives me time to let those trees tell me their stories.

Trees have an impressive voice in this old world, especially those that grow in a land fraught with so many challenges — wild fires, mudslides, earthquakes, flash flooding, and manmade indignities like construction and crazy drivers.

Benny and I met a tree that wrapped its roots around a fire hydrant in quite an impressive show of friendliness and force.

We’ve seen others push up pavement blocks with their quiet resolve.

Yesterday, as Benny circled an old tree in a sandy patch along the road, and I waited patiently for the two friends to reintroduce themselves, I noticed a sprig poking out of some dry, old bark.

Another tiny miracle in this crazy circle of life.

And, speaking of both, we took our little LA burrito for a stroll yesterday and introduced her to the neighborhood trees.

Our little sprout felt right at home.