Hello Tree E-Book

Geo Louw Snr.

• Herausgeber: Europa Edizioni
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024

Beschreibung

Hello Tree is a story of a man’s struggle with life in South Africa and his interaction with a Baobab tree. 
Dealt many blows in life, he battles with his own shortcomings, as a father, friend and husband. 
As he grows older, he has difficulty understanding the way the world has changed and how to cope with these changes. When unsure and in terror, he visits his tree; in it he finds his psychological safe place, he pours his heart out in conversations with the tree, searching for answers and vindication. 
He ponders the mistakes he made, the decisions he has taken and the way his life has developed. He cares about his children, nature and the world. With a deep love and compassion for Africa and its peoples, he worries about the future and the deterioration of the continent. 
Suffering from a severe inferiority complex, he contemplates ending everything.
He cries for help from his Baobab tree as both of them complete the cycles of life.

Geo Louw was born in Pretoria, South Africa, and grew up on a farm in the shadow of the Magalies mountain range in central South Africa. 
He worked as a Financial Manager and troubleshooter in the corporate environments of South Africa and Zimbabwe. Geo Louw holds a deep love and passion for Africa and her peoples.
Having extensively travelled across the continent, his profound connection with Africa and its various tribes is evident in his writing. 
Nowadays Geo is a devoted husband and a caring father to four children.

Leseprobe

Geo Louw Snr.

Hello Tree

© 2024Europe Books| London

www.europebooks.co.uk | [email protected]

ISBN 9791220146500

First edition: January 2024

Hello Tree

This is for you, Ricky: Memories of life’s journey with you, my love, will keep on spreading sunshine as I grow old.

Many thanks to the team at Euro books, that was by my side for this exciting journey.

To Eleonora Gabrielle who roped me in, thank you for the detailed explanations.

To Giorgia Grasso who produced the book, thank you for the excellent work.

To my editor Lisa Frangioni; thank you for all the corrections, suggestions and pointers.

To Elsabe Fourie, who produced the cover, you truly showcased your talent.

To my children: Thank you for bearing with a problem parent, even if you could not always understand me.

Dreams are like butterflies; beautiful but fragile.

Geo Louw Snr

Summer

Hello Tree.

I do not know why I think of you so very often and what drew me to you the first time I saw you when I was but a very young man full of hope and dreams. Strong and facing the challenges of life.

Head on.

You were not the biggest Baobab in the cluster of trees, but there was a certain demeanour about you, standing a little to the side, as if not part of the rest, aloof and watching.

It seems as if you grow the wrong way round, upside down, with roots into the sky, as is the feature of the Baobab. There are even some jokes about that. The explorer David Livingston called you “upside down roots”

One does not joke about majesty.

I noticed you in passing on the road to Tshikondeni from Tshipise in the North-East of my country, South Africa. I stopped, reversed, and while the truck was idling, I stared at you where you stood about one hundred yards from the road.

You were not the thickest of the trees either; there was a huge old tree that stood as a guard over the rest of you, but you had character. I am not sure if it was the way your branches reached into the sky, jubilant or in anguish, I could not tell which, but I had eyes for you only.

You were beautiful, the epitome of strength, youth, and reliability yet you seemed vulnerable, why, I do not know.

That day you looked happy with fruit hanging from your branches and small green leaves turning their faces with the trajectory of the sun. Birds were busy in your branches catching insects that were drawn to you by the offer of food.

I parked the truck in the shade of an Acacia tree and pressing the second string of the barbed wire down, slid through and approached you with reverence. I was now unlawful on somebody else’s land but, in those days, it was no big deal, and I was not in any danger of being shot or arrested.

The nearer I came, the more you towered above me, and I noticed how your roots bit into the earth, thick as the middle of a man. For some stupid reason, I wondered if you could wiggle your toes.

There was a hole in your trunk, and pushing my head through it, I could see, in the dim light, some animal dropping in the empty cavity inside you as I knew I would.

Where my heart is, you have a shelter for smaller and scared creatures where they can get comfort when feeling threatened, close to your heart. Many primitive man, hunters and farmers have used your cavities for shelter and storage in this harsh and challenging land.

It was yet too small for me to enter.

You reminded me of Africa, her protection, care, nurturing and patience with her children, whoever they are and whatever they do.

Her patience with me.

For the first time in my life, I felt that I did not want to leave, that I was destined to stand in your shade in the harsh sunlight of the South African bushveld.