TheBanyanTree: Our City of Trees

[B Drummond]

[Note:  I wrote this originally sent it in to our local newspapers.  
They printed it and I came across it the other day (my wife had saved a 
copy of the newspaper article and put in the front of a book for 
"safekeeping".  I don't remember exactly when I sent it but I do know 
(from one reference in it) that it was prior to the second week of 
September of 2001) ]



   When you've come into Sydney, Australia from overseas, it's easy to 
remember the million and one terra cotta roof tops from the window seat 
as the big bird you're riding in swoops down over the Sydney suburbs 
during its approach to the airport.

   When you've come into Los Angeles you remember the brown cloud 
hovering above the city and how you held your breath as long as you can 
when descending into it on your first landing there.

   When you've come into Denver you remember the Rockies in the 
background,  the Front Range in the foreground and how when they 
depressurized the cabin upon landing that you felt no difference 
because of being of the airport's altitude.

   When you come into Newark, or JFK, or LaGuardia airport, you remember 
the twin towers of the World Trade Center and the hulking, murky 
outline of the Gotham that is New York City.

    And when you come into Atlanta on a clear, late-spring day, you 
remember the thousand shades of green, that of a jillion trees 
encompassing the near environs of the world's busiest airport.

   And if Atlanta is your final destination, the end of your present 
journey you're find that you're glad . . . very glad.

   In spite of the fact that you know the crowds and the traffic that 
moves through the terminal corridors like steers on a stampede await 
you, you smile, sitting in the plane in the plane watching those 
beautiful trees waving back to you in the late spring breezes on your 
descent.

   And as the flight attendant reminds you over a whining, buzzing PA, 
in a hurried, harried voice, "Please do not forget to check to see that 
you have all your valuables before you deplane," you find that you've 
come home to your city of trees" and nothing, absolutely nothing shy of 
an all out nuclear missile attack being underway can wipe that 
ridiculous grin from your face.


bd
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