There is a proverb, "Every majestic oak tree was once a nut who stood his ground."

A huge Oak Tree stands along side my driveway, in between my house and the neighbors; I call it the money tree because it takes a lot of time to rake the leaves and acorns. It's really expensive to trim the limbs, and cut it down, (forget about it)!

One day as I was disgustingly raking up the trees' fruits (leaves and acorns) I began to look at it in awe. Little acorns, barley covered in dirt, began to sprout as tiny trees.

Now that is a sight to behold; a tiny acorn sprout along side this towering Oak.

This Oak Tree, my Money Tree, must be over one hundred years old, the base is approximately twenty plus feet in circumference ,it has to be fifty to sixty feet tall.

According to an article about the Live Oak Society ; they mention that the largest certified Oak tree is one named "The Seven Sisters Oak" in Lewisburg, Mandeville, Louisiana. It measures 11.27 meters (37 feet and 2 inches) in circumference with a crown spread of 45.72 meters (150 feet). It is estimated that it is more than 1,000 years old!

My tree shades my house and both of my neighbors house on either side. The sidewalk and road, well that's free shade. If acorns were worth anything, I could live off the harvest.

Another reason I call it my Money Tree is that it reminds me of a perfect business "model". This tree is solid. The roots are so deep that it doesn't crack the drive. My house is about fifty years old and except for an occasional dead limb falling, the house has never sustained damage from it. Beyond the shade it provides, and the nitrogen it releases into the atmosphere; the value it provides to birds and squirrels is priceless. I suppose since the acorn harvest is so bountiful, that keeps the squirrels from trying to get in the house.

The oak is a common symbol of strength and endurance and has been chosen as the national tree of England.

Needless to say there was some maintenance required to keep this symbol of strength and endurance healthy; but those days are long since over.

This giant of a "model" is firm in it's purpose and withstands the storms of time.

As with any great business model this tree looms tall in the horizon of the neighborhood, a symbol of value, integrity and resources for countless generations. Ah, yes there are such men in their business's that mirror the image of such a splendid "model" as my Money Tree. We often look upon them in awe and wonder as do passers by at the sight of my Oak Tree.

As for me; I merely sack up the harvest and set it on the curb for those that gather the refuse.