Sunday, March 14, 2010

Big Anticipations.....

A whole lot of years ago when I was dispatching, the Township let the State use the Township garage as a distribution point of tree seedlings. People had signed up weeks previously to pick up a designated amount of them which they would, in turn, plant. It was and is a good thing for our environment. Most of these people were new to the program and signed up because they wanted to do their share in helping to replace trees.

The time to distribute was set up for a Sunday morning because it was felt that would be the least busy time since the Township offices were closed. Nothing was open but the police and fire departments. It was my shift that Sunday morning and one of the officers on duty and I watched with keen interest as people started coming into our back parking lot. They were coming in droves and coming in big rigs. Dump trucks, stake trucks, pickup trucks, vans and station wagons with huge trailers. Each of them would report to me and ask where they could pick up their trees. Most of them were picking up 250 but some were picking up 500 or more. They would ask if they should back their rigs up to the garage door to make loading easier. Stifling laughter, we would advise them to check in at the garage first before they moved their vehicles. We watched as they walked into the garage and came out carrying a flat with all 250 trees in it; this flat could easily fit in the trunk of an ordinary car.

As time went on it became more and more ridiculous, then it turned into hilarious. The officer and I could barely contain ourselves with each huge truck pulling in. After a while we felt almost......but not quite.....ashamed of ourselves. We tried so very hard to maintain ..... to at least offer some semblance of professionalism but we would collapse in gales of laughter after each person went out the door and headed toward the garage. We held our sides as we watched them get back in their huge rigs with only a small flat in their hands. The looks on their faces was absolutely priceless. Oh I know it was an honest mistake. When you hear the term, 500 trees....you immediately think BIG.

Its been 30 some years since that happened and I still smile a crooked little smile when I think about it. Whenever I see that same officer and ask if anyone needs to pick up any trees we both burst out laughing. I've often wondered how big those trees are now if the poor little things survived. I'm in no way making fun of the people who plant trees for our environment or for any other reason.....God Bless them. I'm just making fun of the situation......I guess its one of those things where you just had to be there to get the full extent of how funny it all was. It sure did put smiles on our faces for a very long time.

17 comments:

Smocha said...

I would have been laughing too :)

Coffeypot said...

I would have walked out to them pushing a hand-truck and ask if they need help loading that flat in the back of the big rig.

Linda Medrano said...

That's hilarious Val. I guess people just hear the "trees" part and don't think about seedlings!

ain't for city gals said...

lol...this reminds me of the first time I ordered fruit trees...I don't know what I was expecting..I guess I thought they would come with apples ready to be picked.!!! Certainly not what I got...5 little twig like things...waaaah...I wanted my money back!!...

gayle said...

You told the story perfect!! I can picture it and it is so funny!!

Rae said...

My son made that mistake a few years back when he went to a nursery to pick up 100 trees. We still laugh at him for hauling a big trailer to load and carrying out his little lot of "trees". I bet it was even funnier for you watching that happen over and over.

Holly said...

hilarious! This is in such contrast to the show I watched last night about loggers taking down 100' trees and the specialized equipment they needed.

Leann said...

Oh that's too funny. I guess there was not much in the descriptive part of the 'tree partaking'.

Savannah said...

Very well told Val. As someone who has recently completed a horticultural class and is a gardening fanatic, this just really tickled me. I will be chuckling about it every time I go into the garden to plant a new tree now.

As you know, Australia is in front of you time wise so it is actually your birthday already. Happy, Happy my sweet little friend. I hope you have a wondrous day. (I'm getting in early because I have my injection tonight and won't be good for anything tomorrow). xxxx

Savannah said...
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Pearl said...

I would laugh too! It's a great mental image!

Pearl

Jamie said...

Hilarious! You have had some really funny moments over the course of your very interesting job...

How are you? It's Monday, bleh.

I'll write you later toay...have a happy. :)

Anonymous said...

To this day, when I get all excited by reading about mail order plants, it takes a minute to realize just what they'll be SENDING me....

Nedine Says said...

A business in town was giving away free"trees". We got a bundle and said" Where are they?" Some of the seedlings have survived and are now 20 feet tall !

Cheryl said...

I had a big smile on my face the whole time I was reading it. I remember getting a tree once. I had no idea how small a seedling could be.

Mama Llama said...

Is it not just so much fun to have those little "jokes just between the two of us" to share with others?! That is funny--I'm honestly surprised nobody inquired as to whether they were saplings. Hm.

Cute story! Be well, Val.

Joy Des Jardins said...

This is hilarious....you kill me Val. Happy St. Paddy's Day to you sweetie. Big hugs, Joy