“I AM THE TREE”

Years ago I made a comic as a birthday present for my wife. We had been going through a lot of problems during this time period and I thought that writing and illustrating this story would define my feelings so much better than any store-bought gift or card. I was hoping this would be the thing that saved my marriage. Unfortunately, it was far beyond repair. And when I presented this to her on her birthday, she accepted it… but also told me that she wanted a divorce. And that was that.

For the last 4 years I just kept my copy on a shelf and never gave it a second glance. But now during this pandemic crisis, we’re all examining our lives a bit more and I found it. And while the wound of that moment will probably never fully heal, it is an ache I am more than used to and can blissfully ignore.

But while the story is about the feelings I was going through, it’s a true parable. It can be read in many ways and, at its core, it really is a kids’ book. It’s an old style of art for me, and I must admit I was hesitant to put it out into the world. But, during this time of unease and lots of at-home time with the kids, I figured I’d offer up something that I never thought would see the light of day. Maybe it will make someone else happy. And who knows… it may ring true enough to actually help someone.