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Guava Jam

 I would love to see tree-climbing classes for all ages and skill levels at one of the parks in my town. We have several lovely ones and they all have climbable trees - not ones I would attempt at my age but someone younger can easily do it. Recently, I was out to lunch with a former co-worker and one of the dishes features guava jam. 

It immediately triggered memories of the lovely guava tree on our side of the fence with branches going well into our neighbor's garden. This was my favorite tree to climb as a kid and the single greatest attraction for my friends to come over to my place. When guavas were in season there would be a half a dozen of us up on different branches feasting on the fruit until we had had our fill and ready to descend. There are few memories from childhood that can beat the brightness and perfection of those sunny afternoons when I was up on that tree, stuffing myself with guavas. This is not quite like the tree-climbing described in this article but I would take it anyway - just to come close to that memory

After getting suited up, instructors showed them how to tie a rope and connect it to their harness. They were also taught the best method for climbing trees based on factors such as the size or distance from its trunk.

L heard me describe my guava tree climbing and smiled. She could tell it had been a highlight of my childhood. Though there had been no trees to climb in her urban neighborhood when she was that age, she could still relate - there is always something in a kid's life that is similarly picture perfect.

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