The year was 1955; the place was Main Street in Disneyland USA. Along Main Street USA, several new trees were proudly providing shade for guests as they walked down Main Street of this new magical place. These were not just any trees. These were trees of a noble line hand picked by Mr. Walt Disney himself to be the trees that would welcome guests from all around the world as they entered the magic kingdom.

Each of these trees had names that could only be uttered by the trees.  They are ancient names, full of dignity, history, and tradition. They are names that represent an era gone by. It was an era where men, animals, and trees lived peacefully together.  It was also an era where men, animals and trees could communicate in a language that has long been lost to both men and animals…but not to the trees.

The trees, while quiet, have continued the ancient tradition of passing their language on to every yearling sapling. Perhaps you have heard them do it. The process of teaching this language begins in the spring with the falling of the blossoms. As the blossoms fall, saplings learn about the beginning of all things and the history of the world. Through the summer, as the wind blows through the leaves, the story of how man, animal, and tree once used to communicate with the ease of the breeze blowing through their graceful bows. As the fall comes and the leaves are dropped to the ground, the story of the demise of the once strong relationship of this once mighty triumvirate is told. The leaves turn gold as the trees share the story of how fire came to man, and war came upon them. The coming of fire meant death for many trees and every winter and fall the trees shed their leaves and lay dormant in respect for those trees who were lost through the years. Finally every spring, the trees wake back up to tell the story with the hope that someday the once strong friendship between men, animals, and trees will be re-grown.

The cycle goes on every year completely unnoticed by the millions of people walking underneath their watchful eyes. As the years have gone by some of the trees have come and gone, but the stories of the days are passed on and the memories of the past are remembered…if not by man…then by the trees. The cycle went on and on and on….until one day a new tree was brought to Main Street USA in Disneyland. This young tree was given the honor of guarding the entrance to the Kodak Photo Center on the very end of Main Street. He was a happy tree and VERY proud to be standing in the place once inhabited by trees that were once hand picked by Walt Disney himself! It was the greatest honor a tree could hope for after all…

As he stood there day after day he realized he wished for something more. He realized that while he was very honored and thrilled for the incredible honor of being a tree on Main Street USA in the Happiest Place on Earth….it was not enough. He found himself dreaming about, and wishing for, the days where trees, man, and animals could communicate freely. As people would walk by he wished he could just carry on a conversation with them and share in their happiness…maybe even find out what happened in places outside of Main Street USA.