« School, Baseball, Soccer, Max’s Run, Because of Sam | Home | Hawaii and Halloween »
Mixed-Up Tree
By Margot | October 1, 2010
The Tree We Planted in the Courtyard for Sam
Andy Hitting a Homerun in Baseball
Charlie Holding up a "Believe in San Diego" at the Padre Game
Sam batting at age two
We planted a tree in our courtyard for Sam this week. Neil dug out the big planter that was filled with rock hard dirt and roots and Andy and I picked out the tree and we all planted it. Charlie and Andy loved mixing up the soil and soaking the hole and using the shovel and pic ax -which was very interesting. We knew we wanted a citrus tree but weren’t sure what kind to get. Sam loved oranges and lemonade so when Andy and I went to the nursery we looked at all of the citrus trees. I’d heard of trees that had grafted branches with different citrus fruits on each branch. I asked if they had one and they did have one but it didn’t have oranges on it and was too big. It took Andy and I forever to decide on size and type of fruit and the salesman said if I ordered another one of the hybrid trees it could take months to come in so we decided on a pink lemon tree. Right before it was wheeled up, the man noticed it had scale (bugs that will kill it) so we couldn’t get it and had to order a lemon tree from the Mission Valley store. The salesman told us to drive down and pay for it today so the order could come in on Thursday. So Andy and I hopped in the car and drove to the Mission Valley store to pay for and order the lemon tree. When we got there I asked if they happen to have a hybrid tree (the salesman at the first store told us they would never have a hybrid tree at the Mission Valley store) but he said of course, we call them champagne cocktail trees. It was the perfect size with oranges, lemons and limes on it and it was seventy dollars more than our gift certificate allowed. I smiled because I could hear Sam in my head urging me to get it because it was so cool and had all of the fruits on it. He would have gotten such a kick out of it. He loved swirl ice-cream, mixed-up cheese (that’s what he called Colby Jack his favorite because it had white and yellow cheese in it), one red hearing aid and one blue one, different colored shoe laces, and of course, whatever he chose was always more expensive than I’d bargained for. This was his perfect tree and it’s now happily planted in our courtyard. It was very theraputic to plant it. I felt really good about it. I’m not a garderner by nature. I inherited my mom’s brown thumb and I always thought that “gardening as therapy” was crazy but I have to say there is definitely something to it. I’ll let you all know as soon as we make pink lemonade.
We’ve been having a baseball themed fall. We have been to two Padre games lately. Last night we went with some season tickets one of my tennis teammates gave us and they happened to be behind home plate. The boys were so excited. The Padres still have a chance to make the playoffs but just barely. We also went to a game last Friday night with Uncle Matt. They won last night and Kurt Bonebrake gave the boys a foul ball. Andy took it to school today for show and tell. He was so excited about it. Charlie is going to take it tomorrow. Thanks Kurt, you made their night. Andy’s team is looking better and we’ve been out working with the team trying to get them to hit the ball off the hitting machine. He’s really liking baseball and soccer and is looking forward to basketball starting up. We’re trying to get him not to be so hard on himself in sports and school. He has very high standards for himself. An aide who has been working in Mrs. Carlson’s class stopped me today after drop off and said, “I just want to tell you that Andy is such a cute, wonderful kid. He’s so bright and funny and the things that come out of his mouth… Mrs. Carlson and I just look at each other amazed. “Charlie is loving soccer and doing very well in school. His teacher told me today that he’s always willing to share in meeting time and volunteers to help with things and is always happy – big change from last year. He’s going to be a ninja for Halloween. We are babysitting Rosco the dog and Charlie gets such a kick out of him. Rosco always puts a smile on Charlie’s face. He loves his soccer team and though he doesn’t do a dance like Andy used to when he scores, he does a backwards swaggery run. It’s hard to describe.
This week I’ve been just exhausted. I would say “for some reason” in front of that but I think I know the specific reason which is that we have an insane schedule (totally of my own making – this grief avoidance thing can really wear a person out). Wednesday (half day) Neil and I left work early to do a batting practice for the team. We picked them all up from school and did pizza and brought them to the field and did batting practice with Big Joe and then later that night we went to the Padre game. It was one of those “what were we thinking?” kind of moments. I’m much more energized today after going for a run and am gearing up for soccer practice tonight. Thinking about Sam always- watching the 5th graders goof around putting ice down each other’s shirts on back-to-school night Tuesday night just made me think what fun he would have had.
The Arms Wide Open Foundation won 2nd place in the Pepsi grant voting and gets $250,000 for cancer research. Hurray! and thanks to everyone who voted. There is an article in the New York Times today about the politics of the whole thing. Somehow politics sneak their way into everything from school boards to medical care to philanthropy. The link to the article is here: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/01/business/01pepsi.html Kudos to John Bartoz for standing up for the little guys.
Margot
Topics: Progress Reports | 9 Comments »
October 2nd, 2010 at 3:04 am
I cannot wait to see the “Mixed Up Tree” in person. I will be home on Wednesday or Thursday. I’m glad Charlie is enjoying Roscoe and Andrew is delighting his teacher and teacher’s aide. See you guys soon. xoxo. Uncle Matt.
October 2nd, 2010 at 5:39 am
So glad about the Pepsi challenge- I posted it on my facebook page. Thinking of you guys!
October 2nd, 2010 at 4:53 pm
I just love you guys!!!! And how you embrace every single day..
you inspire me!!!!
with great love and admiration!!!!
rhonda
October 2nd, 2010 at 9:33 pm
A beautiful tree for a kid who loves it. He just isnt here to tell us.
Charlie and Andy are following Sam’s exceptionalism. In sports, friends, school..Sam was and always will be exceptional.
I miss all of you. Especially you Sam.
October 4th, 2010 at 3:56 am
My mother loves to garden… and at 74, she is still going strong with chipped fingernails and dirt on her knees, but she loves it! She is already dreading the loss of the warmth and sun as we move deeper into Fall in Pittsburgh!
Can’t wait to see the tree whenever we get out there again. In the meantime, take a moment to sit and watch the tree “grow” and think of Sam… and smile or cry…. whatever suits you at that moment.
thinking of you often,
Colleen
October 5th, 2010 at 4:23 pm
I love that you planted a tree for Sam! And the way it all worked out is really cool! I am glad to hear that you guys and the boys are experiencing so much joy along with your grief. God is good! I continue to pray for your family!
October 7th, 2010 at 3:08 am
What a fantastic tree! It’s so fitting that this uncommon tree can produce a variety of fruits. During Sam’s time on Earth, he certainly was an uncommon kid who produced a real variety of talents. I love that so many people who loved Sam can now love watching this tree grow. It’s good symme-tree! Love, Lisa
October 12th, 2010 at 5:38 pm
I continue to be amazed at how you Hutchisons make lemonade out of lemons…
xo,
Meredith
October 16th, 2010 at 6:39 pm
Thinking of Sam today. Hope you are doing ok. Angela (Madison’s Mom)