Man, what a day! Seriously, I’m still reeling from it. So, I’m an arborist, right? Just your average tree geek, but today? Today was anything but average.
I roll into Duiven, and it’s like the universe decided to throw me a curveball. First off, I’m cruising down the Laan van de Kruideniers, and I spot this massive oak. I mean, HUGE. Like, “I could build a treehouse in there and live happily ever after” huge. But then I see it—this gnarly fungus creeping up the trunk. Ugh, my heart sank.
I’m like, “No way, not this beauty!” I whip out my phone to snap a pic for my Insta. Gotta show off my tree love, right? But then, bam! My phone dies. Just like that. I’m standing there, mouth agape, like a total idiot.
So, I’m fuming, right? I head over to the local café, De Koffiehoek, to recharge my phone and my spirit. I grab a cappuccino, and the barista, this cool dude named Joris, is like, “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” I’m like, “Nah, just trees.” He laughs, and I’m like, “Dude, you have no idea.”
After my caffeine fix, I’m back on the streets. I stroll down the Hoofdstraat, and it’s bustling. People everywhere, bikes zooming past. I love the vibe here. Duiven’s got this chill yet lively energy. But then, I see it. A kid, maybe 10, climbing a tree. I’m like, “Oh no, not on my watch!”
I sprint over, heart racing. “Hey, buddy! Get down from there!” He looks at me like I’m the tree police. I’m all, “You could fall and break your arm or something!” He just shrugs and says, “I’m fine!” Kids, man. They think they’re invincible.
Finally, I convince him to come down. I’m sweating bullets, but I’m relieved. I tell him about tree safety, and he’s actually listening. I’m like, “See, trees are cool, but they can be dangerous too.” He nods, and I feel like a hero for a sec.
But then, I get a call. It’s my boss. “We need you at the park!” I’m like, “What park?” Turns out, it’s the park by the Duivense Molen. I’m racing over there, dodging bikes and people.
When I get there, it’s chaos. A storm last night knocked down branches everywhere. I’m talking major clean-up. I’m not even mad, though. I love this stuff. I grab my chainsaw, and it’s like I’m in my element.
I’m cutting through branches, and it feels good. The sun’s shining, and I’m sweating like a pig, but I’m happy. Then, out of nowhere, I hear this loud crash. I turn, and a branch falls right where I was standing a minute ago. My heart stops. I’m like, “Whoa, that was close!”
After a few hours, we finally clear the mess. I’m exhausted but pumped. I look around, and the park looks great again. Kids are playing, people are walking their dogs. It’s a good vibe.
As I’m packing up, I bump into an old friend, Lisa. We used to hang out back in the day. She’s like, “What are you doing here?” I’m like, “Saving trees, you know.” We laugh, and it’s nice to catch up.
But then, I remember that oak. I tell her about it, and she’s like, “Let’s go check it out!” So, we head back to the Laan van de Kruideniers. When we get there, I’m shocked. The fungus is gone! Like, poof! I’m standing there, mouth open again.
Turns out, the city had a team come in and treat it. I’m so relieved. I’m like, “Yes! This tree is gonna live!” I feel like I just won the lottery or something.
As the sun sets, I’m walking home, feeling all the feels. Duiven’s got its quirks, but I love it. The trees, the people, the chaos. It’s all part of the ride.
What a day, man. What a day.