Many stories start "once upon a time." And usually when they do they take us back. Back to a time when something happened. Something the story wants us to remember. This story starts "once upon a time,” but it takes us forward in time. Forward, to an event that has not happened yet. To an event that may happen, though, in the days of our great-grandchildren's great-grand children.

Once upon a time, in that time, there was a great city. For as far as the eye could see the city stretched. Nothing but buildings and glass and concrete for as far as the eye could see. And oadways and walkways and sub-ways—the roar of engines and the hum of motors, and the bleat of horns and the incessant babble of people. For as far as the mind could stretch, the city stretched.It was a great city. Everyone said so.

There were no green plants in this city. Except for one. In the very center of the city, completely surrounded by buildings, road- ways and people there was one last tree. It was a huge old tree twisted, gnarled, and nearly as tall as the buildings. I don't know what miracle had occurred to allow this tree to be spared when all the others were cut down, but that miracle had occurred. And there it was. In the middle of the city. One last tree.

There were no animals in this city. Except, of course, for the people. There were millions and millions of people. But they, it seemed, were all sick. They went to their doctors and complained of a variety of ills. And the doctors proscribed a variety of pills, salves, and ointments, which the people took as scheduled. But the medicines did no good. So the doctors described special diets, which the people ate faithfully. But the diets did no good. So the doctors designed special exercise plans, which the people followed religiously. But the exercise did no good. The people were still sick. And the doctors could not make them well.

Except for one doctor. He told all his patients: "Go to the tree in the center of the city. Go and simply spend time with the tree. Breathe in its presence. Smell the fragrance of its leaves and blossoms. Put your arms 'round the tree. Press your cheek against its bark. Feel its roughness. Squeeze the tree tightly. Feel its great strength. Do this and it will make you well." "Well," the people thought, "this seems a little weird. But nothing else has worked. Why not?"

And so they tried it. They went to the tree, as directed. They spent time with the tree. They breathed in its presence. They put their arms 'round the tree, pressed their cheeks against its bark, and felt its roughness. They squeezed the tree tightly and felt its great strength. And, lo. it worked! The people instantly felt better. Why, they actually felt well! The people who had hugged the tree felt well! It didn't last, of course. The people still lived in the city. And soon they felt as sick as they ever had. So, back they went to their doctor.

"It was wonderful for awhile. But it didn't last. What do we do now?" "Go back to the tree," the doctor told them. " You can go to the tree as often as you need to. And it will make you well.” And so they did. Whenever they felt a little bad they went to the tree. Some went once a month. Some went once a week.

Some even went every day. And it never failed to make them feel better.

Now the doctor had quite a few patients. And he sent them all to the tree. Soon there were lots of people gathered 'round the tree. And other doctors, seeing how successful the first doctor was started sending their patients to the tree as well.

Soon there were lots more people 'round the tree. Soon there were so many people 'round the tree that lines had to form. And sometimes people had to wait, sometimes for quite
awhile.

And still more people came. Soon there were so many people that the lines were always there. And the delays got longer and longer. Soon they were bringing people to the tree in busloads. Soon there were so many people trying to spend time with the tree that a law had to be passed. And the law
said that no one could spend more that 15 minutes at a time with the tree. And still the people came. More and more people. Soon they had to pass another law. And this law said that no one could spend more than one minute at a time with the tree. And still more and more people came. From all over the city, they came. Soon there were so many people crowding 'round the tree that no one could get next to the tree.

And no one could get well And that is the end of the story. It is a story that has not happened yet. But it may happen in the days of our great—grandchildren's greatgrandchildren. And as they stand in those long, long lines I imagine they will think back to this time and they will say: "How wonderful it would have been to live in those days when there were so many tress. Do you realize that in those
days there were more trees than people? Why, in those days everyone could have had their own tree to hug."

Listen to the words of our great—grand children's greatgrandchildren: "Ancient ones, know how lucky you were to have lived in a time when there were so many trees. Honor your trees. Cherish your trees. And every chance you get spend time with a tree. Breathe in its presence. Smell the fragrance of its leaves and blossoms. Put your arms around the tree. Press your cheek against its bark and feel its roughness. Hug your tree tightly and feel its great strength.” These are the words of our greatgrandchildren's greatgrandchildren.