Possibilities: Thank you Diane & Letty and others...

The following letter is from good friend Diane Rhonemus. We met in the pre-school class at First Presbyterian Church in Stockton long ago, even before Trinity had its own DVCS (daily vacation church school). I still have photos from that time and may post them ;-)

~~~~~~
Happy Spring

Sunday, March 29, 2009 8:47 PM
From:
"D Rhonemus"

To:
joan.may.cordova@post.harvard.edu

Hi, Joan May,

How busy are you at this moment? How many other things do you have going on right now? Me? I can only do one at a time. Did you just get through travelling again? My Spring Break is over and I am not ready to return. It feels like summer out...warm and relaxing. Bad weather to be stuck indoors working.

Time for Tree business. The inevitable has happened. The 3 majestic trees have fallen. Letty Perez took pictures. I told my mom that one picture shows one tree standing and another lying in the parking lot. It reminded me of a fallen soldier with his/her buddy looking on. But from the base of one, shoots arose. How sturdy they are and with such fortitude. Letty Perez was able to save 2 rounds or slices from one of the trunks. We may be able to get a few more slices before the stumps are unrooted.

Letty Perez and several others would like to use one slice to keep as a memorial. Their idea was to have a metal plaque secured to it once it has been planed and varnished and then have it placed in an appropriate place. She asked me to ask you for suggestions about what wording you might like on the plaque and also if you had any ideas where to place it (be careful with idea now, Joan May :-) . The wording could be as simple as "In memory of Braulio and Tranquilina Cordova" with dates or anything else you would prefer. Also, Letty P. thought the round could be placed near future trees. I personally don't see other trees happening in the next 5 years. It would be nice if small chairs could be made out of a round/slice or two for the children since you worked often with them. The slices aren't quite wide enough for a table, I dont think. They seem to be about 2 ft in diameter. Letty P. also spoke of maybe laying ceramic tiles on one for a small table. Someone could design a picture and DVBS children could glue the tiles on. All just ideas for the time being.

Think about these things, Joan May. I know it isn't much consolation. The trees were planted so the wood would be harvested from time to time. How would Rev. Litherland or your parents use the wood? What thoughtful, appropriate memorial could we make? We need to do justice with this fiasco in some way. We still pray for understanding.

Let me know your thoughts.

Happy Bunny time,

Diane

P.S. I cut off one of the shoots and will wave it in church next Sunday for my Palm!


YOU are God's gift to the world!

Trees are down :-(

-Photo of cousin Dr. Dawn B. Mabalon by Jesse P. Gonzalez


Since we've found out the news of "expanding the parking lot" there have been posts from family and friends in Chicago, Florida, Boston, Michigan, Philadelphia, the San Francisco Bay Area and elsewhere. And here are the last two definitive posts by Lina of Stockton on my Facebook wall:


Lina Reyes Sanchez sorry, joanie....just drive by about 4pm...trees are gone.
March 28 at 7:37pm ·

Lina Reyes Sanchez joanie - trees were still up as of 27th noon. I hope they changed their minds!! have a great weekend, Lina
March 28 at 5:14am ·


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Prior to this other family members wrote:

Hi Auntie Joan May,

It's really sad how this has all come about. I asked Chuck [Gardella] how much it would be to move and replant the trees and he said it could be in the $75K range. He suggested maybe getting seedlings from these trees and replanting them or if the church can put up a grove of flowering trees as a memorial, perhaps. I know it's not the same, but at least it would be something.

Bern Cordova Gardella

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
March 16, 2009

Hi Auntie Joan May,

This is so sad to hear! It amazes me that the landscaper can not figure out a plan to work around those beautiful trees. Tony and I will pray that those making these decisions will find it in their hearts to salvage the trees. If not, is there anyway you can obtain parts of the tree and have a wood sculptor create a beautiful artpiece from it? We would be happy to give some monetary contribution for it.

If it is any comfort, Uncle Baoy and Auntie Nina's legacy will always continue through our hearts and minds. The mention of their names always tug at our hearts. They touched so many people and will never be forgotten. Wish our kids could have known them.

With love and hope,
Annchella & Tony Cordova Dalida


There are others.