Weeping Willows, weep.

Two prominent Weeping Willows anchored the center of my childhood backyard. The trees, you'll recall, substituted as the "Alps" in a production of The Sound of Music. Over the years, the Weeping Willows grew so large that their branches rubbed against the siding of the house.

It was not long after that growth spurt that some bugs common to Weeping Willows starting appearing inside the house. The spider-like invaders first arrived in my Parent's master bathroom.

My Mom arranged to have the Weeping Willows cut down soon afterward.

Suburban Chicago, Summer 1959. It looks like Tatjana is ready to celebrate my birthday. The Weeping Willow branches framing us are from a tree that, at the time, was less than two years old.