A year after Dean Blixt passed 💔#ScienceCare would plant a tree in honor and memory of his total body donation to medical and educational research.
This is done for all donors, as the organization works with the National Forest Foundation to plant trees in national forests throughout the country. Deans’s letter states that his tribute tree was placed in the San Juan National Forest, in Colorado. I’ve looked it up on the map, yet, still wondered where this peaceful place actually was. That is…until flying into Montrose, Colorado…near Telluride.
After stepping off the plane to take a picture…since we only have turn flights in and out of there, I started talking to a gate rep, who recently moved to the area. In Montrose, it’s pretty much a one-man/woman band of workers… who cover all jobs needed to move aircraft in and out, from catering and cleaning to ticket taking. It’s another regional flight that has come back to mainline flying for now, since the pilot shortage. ~
On this divine day, when I asked if the mountains were part of the Rockies the agent said, Yes…and then happened to add,…~ “And you see over there?”… “That’s the San Juan National Forest!” ~ Wait! What!? ~ I couldn’t believe it. ~ This messenger…and her words… stopped me in my tracks. ~ I had tears as I shared Dean’s story… and what had been my hope to one day find this special place. ~ A place I one day hope to return.
~ Still, for now, I know where to find you ~ beautifully, bittersweet, ~ Tree of Life!
~ 🌲🌳🌲🌳