Our common areas in the front were flanked by six towering eucalyptus trees, shrouding our homes in their shades from the direct sun and straight street views. For 16 years since I moved in, day in and day out, they are there by the road side, over our window with their silvery leaves and willow-like branches. They dance in the wind, glow in the sun, and are home to birds, merlins, bees, and squirrels. But that was permanently changed on February 18, 2022, when a few workers clad in orange work suits and yellow helmets showed up around 8 in the morning. Within one morning, amid the roaring sounds of sawing and grinding, these six eucalyptuses were felled and ground to powders.
Stepping out as the noises died down, I was saddened at the bare sight of front lawns, now looking very much naked. Gone are the trees, the sight and scent that accompanied us for more than a decade. Gone is the habitat for the animals. And gone forever are the moments when relishing in front of the window I peered into the lush evergreen leaves for blooming flowers.
Never would I take anything for granted.
J started jogging daily for 3 miles since late January. The new company provides a monthly $100 reimbursement allowance for any sport or activity. As the gym is still not very safe, she chose an app (a monthly $14 app) to tune and track her running. It took her around 33 minutes to finish 3 miles, and she wanted to cut to at least 30 minutes. Hope she can keep up the good start.
My return to office on Tuesday February 22 turned out to be jolly and productive. Apart from some water-cooler moments, I joined the team to walk after lunch for about 30 minutes. We are on a program called Virgin Pulse, competing companywide against other teams.
Our company has been rumored to look for a buyer, and a new CFO was brought in last July for possible M&A. It’s said that the closing time is now as near as 6 months. If the deal goes through, what would happen to me?
Our next door neighbors, an old Indian couple, moved out the week before, and put their home on the market right after. Today (2/26) as we saw an Open House sign out in the meadow, we followed the visitors to go in and take a look. Clearly the ridiculously sky-rocketing home price did not thwart buyers. On the contrary, the housing market is still very hot. As I saw people filing out, watching around, and discussing by twos and threes, I quickly retreated as I know I am only an onlooker.
Life does fly by. Middle-aged and no longer young, I have to watch out my health closely. Luckily this year's annual result came out the best. Everything is quite normal, thanks to constant 30 minutes daily ping-pong playing, except for the blood sugar 5.9, which is slightly higher than the norm 5.7. I may need to cut down more carbs and sugar, or perhaps more exercise after meals. My vitamin D level is back to normal after daily supplementing 2 pills of calcium (1200mg) and one pill of vitamin D3 (2000 IU).
暖冬cool夏 发表评论于
回复 '海风随意吹' 的评论 : Thanks, Haifeng, for your reading and comment. You are right that HOA must have reasons behind to cut down those decades-old trees. And whatever the reasons, we residents actually don't have a say in the matters like this. I no longer lament over the loss, and take it in stride now. Thanks again, and hope you have a wonderful spring time!
海风随意吹 发表评论于
Thank you for the beautiful song. Perhaps the roots of these trees may affect the foundation or the underground pipes. The repair cost would be too high for the HOA to handle. An easy way out is to cut the trees. Just a guess.
回复 '7grizzly' 的评论 : Thanks, my friend, for reading and your comment. Somehow your comment today warmed me, as I know what you are trying to say. As you said it is out of my hand, and I actually don't worry much about that. I've been with the company for 10 years now, and if I were let go, I wish I could be given a good package. Ever since I started working in the U.S., I never applied once for Unemployment benefits and never had any package. Maybe it's time to take some rest. For a frugal person like me, as far as I am in good shape/in good health, I can retire anywhere. And of course I should and will keep an eye on my own health. Thanks again, my friend. You take care too!
I like the nostalgic painting of the eucalyptuses. They have to go or they may
cause big trouble. As for a company re-org, one has little control and therefore
will do better than wasting too much time thinking about it. Meanwhile, striving
for health (as it's not free) as you've been doing is the most important thing.
Good Luck!
