okay, maybe its a stretch. but i was heart-rendingly sad when i went back to the arboreteum last year(i have not lived in ann arbor for several years) and found a house full of snotty students, fences, beams, poles, plaquards, and a bunch of metal things in my very favorite magical secret hideaway spot! i Understand that the evergreen trees got diseased and there was nothing anyone could do about that- and i rememebr when my very favorite tree of all was struck down in the night by a bolt of lightening(and i remember too walking amongst its charred shattered remains). These things are natural occurances. . . . . .but jesus h christ, couldn't they have left the rest of it ALONE?!

A n old, old friend was with me, and we talked about the death of Benign Neglect- the very soft and friendly force of good sense which made the arboreteum the wonderful place it was to me in high school, college, adn early adult life. I hope they haven't stopped the man who builds the great stone heart in the river-- i hope, i hope, i HOPE that they at least left HIM alone! Is nothing in the world left untouched by greedy opportunists trying to make a name for themselves these days?

sorry for any "bad vibes"- but please, if you still live there, do all you can to stop those people from destroying anything more!