Rockefeller Center's Latest Big, Dead Christmas Tree

As reported in CTcentral.com, the yearly culling of one big beautiful tree has taken place this year for the gratification of all us Yuletide-happy folk who love to stand around in freezing temperatures with tiny tots perched precariously on our shoulders, to stare for long periods of time at a multi-baubled tree that apparently was just too gorgeous to live. This year, an 84-foot Norway Spruce just minding its own business in a quiet back-yard in Shelton, Connecticut, after having been happily ensconced in God's bountiful earth for some 60 years found that it was indeed so wondrous to behold that man in his infinite wisdom had decided that it was just a bit too wondrous to live and decided to hack it down, tie it up, haul it onto a 115-foot trailer with a giant crane and ship it off to New York to be primped and prodded like some coniferous carcass in preparation for the festivities.

Meanwhile in the back-yard of Mr. & Mrs. Rivnyak (for it is they who agreed to their beloved tree's execution) a silent hush falls over the hallowed ground where once stood a mighty tree, beautiful of form and delightful to the eye. No more will the Rivnyak's come home to see the splendor of that familiar branched form welcoming them to their home. We can only hope that the paltry few weeks of joy this poor deceased tree brings to New York and everyone who visits Rockefeller Plaza will give the Rivnyaks' some solace.

OK, tree's get lopped down every day of course but here is an instance of a tree of quite particular beauty, not one of thousands in a forest of Spruce. It is sad to see people so easily disposed to giving up on the beauty of nature and especially so when it's been a part of the history of their family. Apparently they will be put up in a nice hotel for the Nov. 28th lighting ceremony where they can view the carcass that once stood tall, proud and beautiful in their back-yard. Perhaps they will shed a tear on returning home and reflect on what might have been an error in judgment.

On a side note, one would hope that New York City would promote the planting of more such lovely trees back into the neighborhoods from which they come. Indeed there is currently a plan already underway in New York to plant 1 Million trees by the year 2017 throughout New York City's five boroughs and so as saddening as it is to see trees cut down in their prime good things are ahead for New York's soon to be leafy lanes.