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Not at all alone, but entirely surrounded by true friends. On my left is Grandma. Almost 
tapping my shoulder to my right . . . is ol’ Grandad. I’m with the ancients again. They 
are two 500-year-old Live Oaks who fell in love with each other at a very young age.
Walking up slowly, it’s earth around the old woman that feels softer and softer. 
The closer I come, reality quietly speaks. I am standing within a half a millennium 
. . . still in the making. A deeply rich layer of decomposed organic duff has 
been generously topped with grandma’s leaf offerings from last spring. Unlike 
most trees that drop their leaves in the fall, Live Oaks do it in the spring.
This,
A Day in the Life...
I Found My Self
BY BILL NEIMAN
AUGUST 2026

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