Message from the Tree

Hello out there; this is the tree again. Its been about four years since I've talked to you. Lots of things have happened since then. We're coming along with our clinic and the fire department is shaping up real well. They're trying to bring some life back to this old town with coal processing plants and a few other things.
But I don't think we will ever see it like it once was. How could you ever replace our old timers? Some of them passed on long ago and the rest are slowly dying out. Yes, I'm afraid the best of us are buried yonder in Lee Memorial Park; or on some lonely hillside under a cedar tree--or we soon will be.
It's been especially sad for me this month of May, nineteen eighty-two, cause I looked forward to George L. Kirk tearing up through here in that little car on his way to work every morning. He was an inspiration to me and I miss him something awful.
Guess I just took for granted that he would live forever. But I take comfort in what the pastor said.
"This is just graduation day for our dear friend, George. He stood the test of time and troubles on this earth and passed on to his rewards."
And Brother "Dub" said it was a happy day for the Lord when he could call one of his own children home. Now, that's something to think about. Makes a lot of sense to me.
Old "George Washington" is still around and "Crips", out yonder in a nursing home. But some of them are gone forever. Like Sam Sharp said the other day, "We sure do miss old Mainline."
Well, like I said, the month of May has been bad for me and I ain't been feeling up to snuff myself lately. Just took the sap right out of me. I'm mighty tired and weary and sometimes I wonder if the end is about near for me.
And I can't keep from being sad every morning when George don't come tearing up through here in that little car. But I take heart in what Brother Dub Henderson said, so I'm gonna do the very best I can. When that day comes for me I want them to play the organ softly just for a few minutes, then make the announcement that I graduated with good marks and went on.
So keep that old faded flag flying underneath me and, if any of you old timers come this way, stop and talk to me awhile. It may not be long till we're all buried out yonder. But take heart, we can all come back again.