Tree

There is a man hugging a tree. No, not a tree hugging, nature loving peacenik by the looks of his polished Italian leather loafers. He is simply a man. A young man hugging a tree. In the middle of the crowded streets of San Francisco. People are passing by. They look at him. Glance for a second or two, then move on. Like I said he is a clean looking man. With sunglasses too. Perhaps I didn’t mention his overall appearance and how he looks clean and shaved, but I presumed the Italian loafers; the polished pair. Gave that away.

The man is hugging the tree. He is not a scary looking man. Not a homeless raggedy looking man. So why is no one stopping? Because he is a man hugging a tree. And he doesn’t look threatening. He looks simply like a man hugging a tree. And people don’t want to be bothered why people do the things they do. They simply like jumping to their own conclusions as to why this man is hugging a tree; why anyone would hug a tree.

“One too many pills mixed with a drink or two”. A lot would assume. Perhaps some sort of “herbal soul -cleansing halluceginic? “

Maybe he is experiencing whatever people are willing to believe they have no control over when they are “under the influence”

A man passed by him. Holding a toddler. Stopped and asked him if he were alright. Now immediately everyone is given another green light to pass another judgment;

” who in their right minds approaches a man hugging a tree in the city with a toddler in their arms?”

A man holding a toddler approaching another man hugging a tree. That’s who.

Another man stops by. He stops to take a photo of the young man hugging the tree. The man seems annoyed. He is annoyed that there is something off with his lenses, the focus of his camera is shifting. He can’t get a good picture or clear shot of the man hugging the tree…. Or maybe, he is simply annoyed, while taking a picture. Perhaps he is just an annoyed man taking a picture.  Who said there is a rule of general serenity and kept composure to be encompassed when taking a photo?

Now what if this had been an experiment of a man hugging the tree and how the people would react? To shine a light on the cruelty of the human race. The stage people are in now. In this fast moving world, where they simply can’t be bothered without anything but a snap quick judgment.

Well, in that case then perhaps I should probably stop typing this while looking at the man hugging the tree.

Let’s proceed with hopes that it isn’t a filmed experiment. Yes, my own embarrassment and fear of exposed hypocrisy of pointing out people’s cruelty and lack of kindness overwhelms my hope, or lack thereof, that this young man, is an actor. And doesn’t need any real help.

A very fragile looking thin and short old lady passes by with three full bags of cans and empty bottles. This old woman doesn’t even bother, or just simply doesn’t acknowledge this young man. One would wonder if maybe this old woman had, had her fair share of young men hugging trees.

Right across the street from this tree that is currently being shown affection and being cuddled. Is a store with a rainbow flag on it. Now we all know what the rainbow flag represents. Unity and acceptance, but above all; love. Love is love and love unites. Or something of that nature describing love as the answer . Perhaps it is . To everything . But it is not to be found , unfortunately everywhere. No. That would be too convenient for people.

So on the other hand, we have those people who believe in love and , have fought and still are fighting for years and years for these simple rights. And now in a lot of the parts in the world their fights, endless efforts and bravery are celebrated with rainbow flags and marches in remembrance of these brave individuals.

So perhaps there is a different type of love here between this man and the tree. No one really knows what this tree means to this man. Or what any given tree could mean to someone. Somehow the idea of an infatuation in trees and the bravery of a young man who dared to express his undying love for the tree doesn’t really seem that far-fetched, but yet, somehow it is ?

No, this young man is probably not expressing his love for the tree. And if he is then he is doing a terrible job at it.

Is this considered a case of public disturbance? Are we disturbed? Can someone pick up the phone and claim that a man hugging a tree is causing us to fear for ourselves, he is not hugging us. In fact two friends just met in front of the young man hugging the tree and they, hugged one another.

A group of hipsters, I’m sorry if perhaps by the time whoever you are reading this the term “hipster” is suddenly offensive. Then in this case, a group of young men, with no particular distinguishing apparel traits passed by. Laughed at the young man hugging the tree, and kept walking.

Are you still reading this? You must know by now that this is simply an article of some sort, of a young man who is hugging a tree.  And that is all that there is to it.
The end