My passion this week comes from two trees – inanimate and animate.

This week David said to me, “I heard you do genealogy. I don't know anything about my father’s family.”

This week I said to myself, “I taught myself to identify all the trees in my California tree books. Now, how will I identify those several trees that are in my ‘trees unknown’ file?”

So I began doing genealogy for the first time in some months. For someone who was highly motivated. That excited my juices.

I began to seek the help of an expert in the field. Don is the author of one of my tree books. Awaiting his answers excited my juices.

This week I emailed David with his father’s family’s findings so far. David was thrilled – and so was I.

This week I emailed Don with the photos of five trees I could not name. He emailed me back with the names of those trees. I was thrilled.

The juxtaposition of family and wooden tree excitement this week got me thinking. Perhaps there is more of a connection here than meets my eye.

I am enjoying linking up dead and alive people. Those dead people have, in a way, become my friends. I enjoy linking up the trees I see with their names. In a way, those trees have become my friends.

Now how can I get those newly found relatives and newly found trees together. Duh. They already are together. The newly named great-great-grandfather of David, and the newly named (by Don) Prunus caroliniana are together – in my mind.

The excitement of finding both is blended in a delightful rush. My new friends: Tree of Man, and Tree for Man. Both trees have roots that go deep. Both trees have branches that I can look forward to exploring further. Excitement from both related hobbies together. Wow. What next?

Mr. Ebsen may be contacted at Robertebsen@hotmail.com