The Jericho Forever Tree
Outside of Knoxville, Tennessee there is a trio of farms. In the center where these three parcels of land meet, there’s a giant old Cypress tree. There’s a tire swing hanging from one branch, a groove worn into the limb holding it. An old tire, from back in the way backs as Grandpa Gene would call it, hung, eternally swaying in the breeze.
It overlooks a pond. Barns. Expanses of land. It’s quiet and peaceful.
On the trunk of that tree, there are names, initials. GJ loves ED. EJ <3s MT. Jim luvs Deedee. Representing the Jericho family and the soulmates they met along the way. Gene, he loved Edna and told the world. Eugene loves Maggie, to this day. Deedee caught the eye of Jim. This is the Jericho Forever Tree. This is the tree where Travis Jericho carved his initials with Lou Wolfe’s after they parted, and where he goes to feel closest to her even now. This is where Ollie will add her soulmate one day. Where Faith will carve Tommy’s name. Where JJ will never get the chance to add her name. Temp wants to put her initials here with someone important more than anything.
This tree. It’s magic. Aunt Karen never carved her initials in the tree, because the Jericho in love is the one who has to do the carving, and now? Aunt Karen is on husband number three. If you love them, you carve it into the tree to let the universe know. Eugene married Maggie under the tree. There’s pictures of her swinging on the tire in her wedding gown.
The tree is magic. The tree gives forever.
