The Celebration Tree

Chances are you have passed under him yourself and have barely made note. Rather than aspire to the conventional, upright role, the Celebration Tree resolved instead to move laterally in the world, curving in a graceful rainbow arc across the forest path. In this way anyone who traverses that particular path passes under this smoothly arched gate.

In many cultures it is believed that a doorway or a gate is a sacred passage from one space to another. The groom often carries the bride through the doorway to their first home in honor of the transition into marriage. In Japan, Torii Gates,



sometimes simply sitting in the middle of the bay, are much revered, and in many cultures the occasional arched and arbored trellis can be found planted in the random backyard, a gate from nowhere in particular to nowhere in particular, but magical all the same, as shown here,



and here (although we do feel that this one looks rather more like a bus stop).



The Celebration Tree fancies himself as having a similarly resplendent role. As each person (or critter) passes underneath him he cheerfully celebrates the occasion.

Good job, he’ll say. Or, Congratulations, old chap. Or, Nicely done. Couldn’t be prouder.

It doesn’t appear to bother him in the least that his good wishes are never acknowledged in any way by their intended audience. He is simply delighted to have yet another lucky traveler cross the threshold he so gracefully demarcates. The pleasure he feels in their passage is matched only by his own pleasure in his assistance. We think that is what is truly meant by taking pride in one's work, and we seek accordingly to do so as well.