Tree
krissy’s tree
Around Thanksgiving of 1995, we planted a Royal Poinciana tree at Markham Park, where Krissy’s original memorial had been held.
The night of the dedication, our friends and family gathered with us and circled her tree in candlelight. With Niki and Joie by my side, we attempted as best as we could to compose ourselves, and share with our circle of friends some of the beautiful poems and songs that we had received from people all over the world as tributes to Krissy. At one point as I was reading a letter, much to our amazement, a large shooting star streaked across the sky. The letter I was reading at that time had stickers of shooting stars stuck all over it! We truly felt it was Krissy’s way of letting us know she was with us.
We brought wildflower seeds and had everyone pick one to plant them around the tree to symbolize that their love and friendship would continue to grow.
over the next few months…
Several of the seeds broke ground and treated us to another surprise: large sunflowers had claimed the inner circle of her tree! Of all the wildflowers planted, we find it heartwarming that she chose the sunflowers to grow closest to her trunk.
Each member of our family hung a wind chime in her tree’s branches that meant something special to us. Niki hung dolphins. Joie hung up the sun and moon. Aunt Mary hung some kitty cats, and Dad & I hung lighthouses. The park rangers say that they hear the chimes all the time.
In April of 1996,
Joie remarried and chose Krissy’s tree as the location for her private ceremony. Joie said, “that way, both of my sisters can be there.” The sunflowers were in full bloom then. It was as if they were her bridesmaids. The wind chimes rang constantly, like church bells ringing, and a little yellow butterfly was ever-present.
The park rangers say Krissy’s tree is one of the most visited sites in the park. The marker at the base of her tree reads:
“Through nature she will continue to blossom and grow, and the beauty of her spirit will live on. The tree will produce seed pods and, in future years, the seeds will be planted and her wish to have a family of her own will someday also come true...with a little help from Mother Nature”.
Krissy’s tree is a very special place.
Dedicated to the memory of KRISSY, Kristen Erin Taylor “Redneck Girl” 1978-1995, ”forever young”…8.2.3.6…Thinking of you always…1.4.3.7…I love you forever
