To talk about trees is to talk about life. As a child, trees watched over me as I slept, painted on my bedroom walls by my father. The trees had little eyes peeking out and elves nestled inside. Some children might have found this scary, but I believed these trees were my protectors. I often rode my bike deep into the forest to be amongst trees and their scent of cedar and fir. Surrounded by these majestic conifers, I felt safe and seen before anyone told me not to feel this way. The trees carried me high in the sky, sheltering me from the sun and wind. They sang to me their stories through whistling leaves and dancing branches. To talk about trees is to talk about life.