What is a Tree-of-fun?
They are the kind of trees that grow big with large limbs so you can tie a tire swing to one of the lower branches,
then anyone with the desire to reach the sky can attempt to do so.
A Tree-of-fun may have branches low enough so you could climb the tree and sit undetected in its refuge for hours.
Or maybe it has limbs spread out enough so you can build a fort high up in its branches.

During the girls' spring break, we went up to Whidbey Island for a couple of days to visit my sister DeAnna.
Our intent was to investigate a bit of the island and explore the beach near by.
In between a study at Fort Casey's bunkers and our beach combing, we interrupted our drive with a stop at the local Lutheran church.

"There is a swing here that I think the girls will like," DeAnna announced.

As we pulled in the driveway, we could see the hill and the

Tree-of-fun.

This tree is as wide as I am tall.
It's first branch must be 12 feet up and as broad as a dinner plate.
  The swing hung on the steep side to where you could push off from the hill and find yourself high above ground all at once.
Upon inspecting the tree,
I found two bigger branches had been broken off long ago,
and an old rusty chain was imbedded in the trunk.
Perhaps years ago this tree had another swing.
It might have been a climbing tree once.
Probably destined to be a Tree-of-fun from the beginning.

I wondered how many hundreds of children had played at this tree.
The screams and laughter brought upon by its limitless generosity.

"My turn," Alex demanded. She had waited patiently while Jessie indulged.
Both girls took turns swinging.
Once again the
Tree-of-fun
heard the laughter and screams echoing from under its bumbershoot.

Now that I think about it,
maybe this is the Tree of Life,
because you haven't lived until you've
played in a