THE LOVE TREE By Barbara Willis One evening my husband and I went out for a fun day. We had made a great day of it. The sun was setting and it was time to go home. We had one last store to loaf around in. As we were leaving, I spotted this beautiful oak tree standing twenty feet tall setting out all by itself in it's container. I glanced at it and thought. "Oh how I would like to have that beautiful oak tree." We continued on our journey toward home. On the way my husband drove me by a new development.  We enjoy visiting and looking at beautiful homes and wonderful landscaping. During the tour I mentioned seeing the beautiful oak tree. Without saying more, we headed on toward home.   Watching the road I noticed he was not taking his normal road back home. Instead we ended up back at the store where I had seen the oak tree. He drove up to the front of the store for a look.  The tree was gone. My heart sank. Seeing my disappointment, he said. "Let's go inside. Standing in a far corner of the lot being protected for the night stood the oak tree. We searched it over for a "sold" sign. None was found. My heart leaped for joy as Ern looked this special tree over. My thoughts turned to planting it as I thought this tree could be ours. Way too large for Ern to move , I thought. No tree was was worth taking chance on him being hurt trying to move it. Driving home, my thoughts were on this beautiful oak tree. The next day was the day I always set aside for my Mom. I fix her hair and take her to lunch and we go shopping. As I kissed my husband goodby to go over to Mom's house he asked me to call the store to see if they still had the oaktree. "I'll gladly call." I said. "Yes" was the answer from the store. I went on my way to mom's. On returning home in the evening I saw setting in the driveway a trailer with the oak tree lying down in it. I clapped my hands for joy! But, how will one man plant an oak tree that took a fork lift and five men to load onto the trailer? Watching the late evening news, the weather forecasts a storm coming with high winds and rain, changing to ice, then snow. With a glance at each other we know that our tree has to be planted this night before the wind comes up breaks up the rootball of our wonderful tree. We set up lights to light the night. With a come-a-long and ropes we move the tree inch by inch toward its's spot in the yard.  The night is calm, clear and the stars are shining. A wonderful evening. Ern dug a hole right in front of our dining room windows so that we could enjoy this tree for years and so it would protect our dining room table from the sun. Hour by hour and inch by inch, we move our mighty oak closer to it's resting place. We take rest breaks in our yard swing Ern made for us the year before. Holding hands, looking up in the night sky so peacful and quiet we catch our breath and drink water. My heart is so happy sitting there with the one I love sharing our love together, thinking how much I must be loved for him to work that hard late into the night to make me happy. Yes, over a tree. Working all night and finishing just before dawn, with the wind changing to the north and picking up and sprinkles now falling from the sky onto our stately oak tree we go inside, look out the dining room window and think what a labor of love. With much love, thankfulness, and great happiness in my heart I kiss the man I love and say thank you, I love you. My eyes are misty as my thoughts turn to the days events, to the man who would work all night planting a tree to make a wife happy. This had to be the ultimate expression of love. I turn to look one more time at this gorgeous oak tree that will live one for years and give us many hours of pleasure. And all the love that went into getting to this spot. Truly this was a labor of love. For many years to come we will stand at our dining room window and gaze out at our beartiful Love Tree. Our love tree is still alive and looking good..