Topic: The Grateful Tree

Sulissurn

Date: 2013-11-25 13:14 EST
Let us be grateful to people who make us happy;
they are the charming gardeners
who make our souls blossom.
--Marcel Proust


http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h208/elf_fu/GRealms/swirlytree_zpsfa432b68.jpg


The ever-shifting change of shop owners made their marks in the downtown markets. A few buildings always seemed abandoned.

One such building standing tall and proud despite its boarded windows used to be a tea shoppe of some sort. The white paint was in need of repair, the windows were boarded. But something new had been lovingly hand-painted along its east wall--a wall bereft of windows or decoration. A giant blank canvass of a wall was no longer blank.

Sprawling from the very ground where wisps of weeds and dirt, inching with bare, decorative curling limbs to nearly the very edger of the eaves grew a tree. In spite of it being such a well-thought of work of art, a passer-by could not help but feel their eyes itch a little. Perhaps because it seemed as if something vital was missing--that the tree needed to be more complete some how. Perhaps that urge would make someone stop and spy to the right of the tree's trunk, attached to the wall, a very large, see-through box stuffed absolutely full of autumn shaded leaves. Red, orange, yellow, brown and every shade of the season in between. Beside the box was a much smaller one filled with pens attached to the leaf-box with a string.

A simple note on the box read: What are you grateful for this year, RhyDin? Who would you thank? Take a leaf and help the Grateful Tree grow.





OOC
((Hello! This is a wide-open thread where anyone may reply. If your character would like to interract in anyway with the Grateful Tree (save destroying it) please do! If you do wish to write something in reply, a leaf shaped icon will be handed out in thanks for their stories. ))

Fourth

Date: 2013-11-25 19:09 EST
Melanie couldn't read, nor could she write. At least, not in this language. However, she'd seen another by the tree, and being the curious soul that she is, she asked and asked until she'd figured it out.

Now, she still can't write. That doesn't mean she can't make someone print a leaf shaped note and write it for her. It comes with the relationship, being able to tell people to do stuff for you. The note read this.

"Upon realizing that this is not a holiday based on celebrating genocide, I quickly realized there's something about thanks. So, I'd like to thank the people at the Outback for providing me with so many faces to punch. I'm kidding. I'd like to thank Terry, Harris and Clarice for working with me until I sort of, almost, figured out what this place is all about.

I'd like to thank Claire for making Billium. He's the best.

And, Clarice. You. There's a lot that could be said, but it's best said in a simple manner. My people are like that, we're simple, we're blunt, we're kind of crazy. But you know what we are? We are who we've been through five thousand years and five thousand wars. We don't change, we never will. You gave me something I didn't even know I wanted. Thanks for accepting me as I am."

Huh

Date: 2013-11-25 22:11 EST
As dour as she often was, Abby had an idealist's soul. It was crammed somewhere beneath the jet black disdain that filled her like sawdust in an old doll, but it was most certainly there. Taking a leaf- orange seemed an appropriate enough color- the gingersnap plucked the pen up and began.

"I'm quite grateful for a great many things. For Geiseric who may very well love me forever, in his own way as I love him in mine, and for Bea who loved me but for a short while. I'm grateful for the very few people who I proudly call my friends. I'm grateful for the myriad of chances the universe has sought to bless me with and for the hope that I need not another."

Leaf in hand, her nose twitched as she eyed the odd tree and slowly but surely, a smile bloomed on her lips. Once all was said and done, nothing would remain of her there but that leaf.

Darcy Angel

Date: 2013-11-26 02:35 EST
Darcy was very thankful for the many things in life. Pen and leaf in hand she began to scribble, "First off as cliche as it sounds I am thankful for my friends and family. For Mayday always being there for me when I need her most. For my brother David who is the best brother a girl could ask for. For my parents Icer and Aurthur for them accepting David and I and loving us as they do the rest of their children. I am thankful for the love of my life who completes me and makes me whole. I'm thankful for all of my friends. Whom without would make this world a very dull place. I'm thankful for Art and Mai who both understand me more sometimes than I do myself. For Andu, Khoom, Claire, and Crowe who continue to make my existence very exciting. To all those who I know well or not at all I am thankful that you all are in my life and I love you all."

Arthour

Date: 2013-11-26 04:05 EST
Arthour's note was simple, there was too much he could write, for too long, when it came to being thankful.

"I have more to be thankful for than I could ever hope to write, here and now. My friends, my family, are one and the same to me.

I cherish every moment you give me. And some times every moment you tolerate me too.

- Arthour."

NorseLady

Date: 2013-11-26 09:45 EST
Shylah pauses during her morning walk to admire the hand-painted tree with its curling branches and the colourful leaves with words of thanks written on them. She thinks this Grateful Tree is a marvelous idea, and fully intends on adding her own leaf. Decides a golden yellow one will do nicely.

There are simply too many names to list individually. Perhaps a poem will suffice.

Life's little gifts that mean so much
Are strokes of friendship's velvet touch.
A loving word, a kindly deed,
A hjelping hand in time of need.
A bit of praise, a bit of cheer
Small treasures that my hjerte holds dear.
I give min takk to those today
For friendship's touch along the way.

~Shy

Claire Gallows

Date: 2013-11-26 13:28 EST
This whole Thanksgiving thing was still an incredibly new concept to Claire, but it was one she felt she could get behind all the same. Her direct family wasn't particularly extensive, beginning and ending with her sister, and Noct's side of things, well they didn't have Thanksgiving in Lucis so that put the kibosh on that. Cordellia had asked her to grab a few things from the market to better prepare for this Day of Thanks meal, so when she happened upon the oddly painted tree and the handful of scrawled upon leaves already placed there, Claire thought it suiting that she add her own. Shuffling her armful of groceries, her tongue poked from the corner of her mouth as she precariously balanced everything while she scribbled across a red leaf.

"Serah, for being the one who has been there always, my sunshine on a cloudy day.

Noctis, for never giving up on me and for loving me as I am.

Gabriel, Jade, & Lila, for reminding me that every choice I make has consequences.

Zack, for helping me through so much since my arrival.

My friends...as numerous as they are, namely Khoom, Aja, Shadow, Rena, Katt, Raven, Liz, and all of those at the fights.

The Children at DGO, for perspective. And for hope.

Odin, for the guiding light.

For my experiences the past year for despite the pain, there has been growth."

Deciding to cut herself off before she got excessively long-winded, she set the pen down and shuffled the things in her arms once again. Pinning her lower lip between her teeth, she finds an open spot and declares it suitable enough to leave her leaf behind. Satisfied, she figured she better hurry and get the food home before either she froze or something went bad. Either way, before long, she was gone.

The Redneck

Date: 2013-11-26 15:42 EST
Once is, for some, never enough. For the Redneck who found so much to be thankful for in nearly everyday, well, she really couldn't help herself.

A color chosen at random, though she wasn't the least surprised when the rich, deep gold bordered on a particular shade.

"For everyday. For everyone I've met this year, and all the years before. For the lessons I've learned, and the knowledge I hold deep because of them. For the very breath I breathe from moment to moment.
"And most importantly, for the family I've managed to tack and glue, and bubble gum and bailing wire stick together here. A Family that reached out and tugged me in, even when I was tugging them close too.
"Every day, I thank the Powers for that wonder, that blessing."

SEEKER

Date: 2013-11-26 21:41 EST
it was pain and simple , much like the writer

" all " was what it said

be well & enjoy the rest of the day

Cath

Date: 2013-11-26 21:52 EST
There's a tree on the wall.

Robert is passing through the marketplace, mostly lost in his own head, his own dreams, but that makes him stop and look. He studies the whorls and branches of it with a soft smile on his face; the leaves: the words, the names people have already left there.

And on impulse, he adds his own.

It takes only a few seconds. Life, it says. He attaches it to the tree and then he's on his way again, leaving it hanging behind him in the breeze. A little memento, a little piece of him left behind with love and good wishes.

Stops a few steps on. And returns with a grin.

"Donna," reads the second one.

And then he's gone, off to finish his errands and give it no more thought than he already has.

Katt Batten

Date: 2013-11-28 10:18 EST
There she was at the tree, still kind of recovering from her 'troubles', but she was too stubborn to rest for too long.

There was so much she was thankful for so where to start?

Biting her lip she started to write...

I am thankful for:

My brother who has been the best big brother a person could ask for.

For my boyfriend who makes my heart flutter with just a smile.

For all my friends who, despite my oddities, are still my friends and accept me for who I am.

For being alive to meet so many people that have influenced my life and made my life into something I never imaged it would become.

Serah Farron

Date: 2013-11-28 10:30 EST
She had never seen such a interesting but awesome idea in all her life when she saw the tree! While the idea of the holiday was still very brand new to her she was excited to add to the lovely idea of the tree.

My sister, Claire, who has been an inspiration and strength.

My friends. There aren't many but they are good friends!

To new beginnings.


JC

Date: 2013-11-28 20:50 EST
A golden leaf stained with black ink. Calligraphy, flowing and delicate formed the words, shaping the diminutive woman's thoughts.

Morgan
KC
All I have & all I need

Sulissurn

Date: 2013-11-30 17:23 EST
http://i.imgur.com/XT2eln6.png

Johnny Storm

Date: 2013-11-30 22:17 EST
Johnny added his leaf to the tree...

http://cfc.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/.sig/IuBLwJ8rvrsejRxENykrLg/cid/105683615/id/3rc6zTZa4xGPObVwtP8JyA/size/c600x518.jpg

Gypsy Lore

Date: 2013-12-01 08:09 EST
Oh, dear?.

What was that quaint American phrase? A dollar short on late days?

No, no. That wasn?t it. A day short and a dollar early? No?

Thin tendrils of early morning light snaked across the sky, blushing a brighter blue now that the Sun rose, dispelling the shadows even as it birthed new ones with its waking. And here, silent and very much alone, stood a Gypsy beneath a tree.

?Oh! It?s ? ? A day late and a dollar short.? Chuckling, Vera felt her nose wrinkle, enjoying a bit of self-depreciating humor.

Reaching, reaching ? she plucked a golden leaf, turning it this way and that to better examine each side. ?Thankful, hm? Am I the thankful sort?? she muttered, this time beneath her breath. ?Suppose I am ??

Wistfully the woman took a turn on her heel, bright eyes peering and flashing over a town (a city, really) and the quiet forest, all seemingly asleep. All still. People tucked in beds and the animals in burrows.

And here she was, alone.

Alone.

That single word stood stark in her mind but for once, it carried none of its bite. ?Not really.?

Not so, alone, is she.

?I?ve been to a wishing tree and now, I stand under one full of thanks. And I do thank you, tree, for being here ? and allowing me this moment.? Odd, odd Vera, strange Gypsy woman. Not that she minded, not that she cared or thought much about her own eccentric behavior.

For her it was far too natural to ?think aloud?, and for her it would be rude not to acknowledge the tree and the chance it provided.

Finding a marker of sorts though proved to be a bother, the Gypsy continuing to mutter to herself while she patted pockets, holding the leaf carefully between thumb and forefinger. But when she was ready she scrawled as neatly, as delicately as possible ?

Meu fiica

Prietenii iar familie

There was just enough room for one more. Hesitating she took a glance over her shoulder ? as if someone could be lurking near, peeking. Hell, as if anyone could read what she was writing! Still ... hastily ...

Știi cine iar Știi ce

Satisfied she left on that note, leaving the leaf behind like so many others.

The Gypsy left knowing she truly left it on a strange note, indeed.

But it felt right and maybe (like the old cliche) right for wrong reasons.
And ... Vera left not alone at all, as well.