Plant a Tree

Something has been really plaguing my thoughts lately and I can’t seem to figure out why.


I work in Pittsburgh’s own little skyscraper – although 64 floors might seem a bit meager in the list of World’s Tallest Buildings (its only 35th tallest in the US alone), this building has quite a dominance in the humble skyline that belongs to the ‘Burgh. And, to live up to its size, the US Steel Tower works hard to maintain its grounds and lobbies with décor that screams “We’re all Business here, Folks.” While I realize that this makes sense from a point of view that seeks to bring in companies to lease space – it certainly leaves much to be desired in the way of inspiring me to take on the day with a dose of office vigor (Sorry, US Steel Tower interior designer… I’m sure it wasn’t your fault, but grays, tans & metals aren’t very feng shui!).

But the good people in charge of the grounds in and around the Tower have tried to spruce up the place with some eco- goodness (how very trendy!) by littering the place here and there with these:

Trees! Now, that’s more like it! They’ve got to be filling me with at least a few ounces of extra energy, or, at the very least, a few ounces of extra oxygen (can you measure oxygen in ounces?)!

I must have walked by these trees close to a hundred times before I suddenly had the realization that they were potted (I know, I know… I’m an idiot not to have realized this at first glance considering that many of them are INDOORS – but, sometimes my brain is vacant while I walk, ok?!). Now, potted trees are a nice enough idea for bringing the outdoors indoors… but I can’t help but wonder: What kind of life is this for the tree?

Now, I am no tree hugger (not that I'm opposed -- I've just never felt the urge), but honestly, the poor things are (dare I say it) crippled! I’ve heard it said that a tree’s root system has the same (if not larger) width/girth/depth of a tree’s branch system – but for these poor fellows that can’t possibly be the case. And, it’s the same for the outdoor trees in the courtyard – beautiful, but stifled by their cement prison. And, now that I’m thinking of it – what is going to happen to these trees as they continue to grow? Will they eventually be replanted in soil they can really spread out in? Are they discarded? Or, does the lack of root space keep them from ever reaching their potential growth? Please, all you blog-reading botanists – GIVE US SOME ANSWERS!!

So why is this bothering me so much? More than likely its because I live my life in analogies. I look at these trees… think of their roots… and immediately think about my own ability to plant some roots. And, to be honest, this stage of life sort has me feeling like a potted tree.

I moved to Pittsburgh with the idea of it as a temporary home. It made the most sense for my life at the moment (Seeing that the man I was marrying was going to be in school there for 3 years)… but in the back of my mind I was already wondering “where next?” And, that once fleeting thought has taken up permanent residence in my brain space, because 2 ½ years later… with AT LEAST 2 more years committed to this city… I still am wondering “but where NEXT?”

And, there is something about this way of thought/life that I think is really… as I said before… crippled. I’ve made Pittsburgh my pot – and I’m planted, but with no real roots. If I don’t allow myself roots where I am TODAY… then I’m stunting my own growth. How much more growth would I have seen if I allowed Pittsburgh to be my park (Tree farm? Field? – I couldn’t quite pick a good growing place name… haha).

And, sure, it’s a risk… because ultimately, the roots are going to make any future moves that much more painful and difficult – but it sure seems to be a better way of living for TODAY.