December 2008 December was the month I read Q & A, the novel by Indian diplomat Vikas Swarup (currently serving as India’s Deputy High Commissioner to the Republic of South Africa) which Danny Boyle transformed into the octa-Oscar winner Slumdog Millionaire. After being involved in thoroughbred racing in Bombay for a decade, living in that Maximum City for four years, and spending substantial time there annually during the succeeding third of a century (thus far), I feel I know something of that metropolis; and what I saw in the movie (which I thoroughly enjoyed, save for a couple of false notes, like the “drop-into-the-cesspit” scene) had the visceral feel of its elemental reality.

While in Houston during December Tallowood Baptist Church’s adult choir delivered its 2008 program of Christmas music with its usual professionalism and panache, enhanced this year by the fluid proficiency of Tim Zimmerman and his associates, the King’s Brass. This was one of the month’s high points, though perhaps December’s greatest event of note for me was the pruning of the hefty 200+-year-old live oak that anchors the southeast corner of the Floresville house’s garden. Sometime during the autumn a massive, low-lying branch had broken off, and lay heavily on the ground, the jagged edge of its remains yawning untidily from the trunk. Fortunately for our leafy friend, one of its neighbors is a certified arborist; and should you ever need assistance with a tree in or near Wilson County, Texas, please contact David Trevieso. David trimmed the oak’s dangling deadwood, and sculpted its living cambium to best advantage; with its fresh shave and haircut, the tree now looks smart indeed. Before departing, David also sharply curtailed a couple of Chinese tallow trees that were preventing sun from reaching the backyard’s young oak. Chinese tallow trees are an alien, invasive, short-lived species, and these two will be replaced with natives once they die; but as they are currently in the robust prime of their lives, those lives were spared for now, for even aliens have a right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness!

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