My grandparents had a plum tree in their backyard a few steps away from the veggie patch. Every summer they would pick the plums, give away bags to family and friends, and grandma would make plum jam to last all of us all the way through the winter. Granddad and I used to hang CDs from its branches to keep the birds away from the ripening fruit.
A few days ago my sister went back to the property to pick something up from the new owners, and the plum tree was still there. My sister told them stories about the special role that tree played in our family’s story, and it brought her joy to hear the new family were making their own memories with that old plum tree.
It brought me joy too.