A Tree Grows in Manhattan

Walking toward Central Park, I noticed an old friend – A 1985 Chrysler Le Baron Town & Country Wagon with wood panels: Fondly nicknamed, The Tree. I drove The Tree for two or three years in high school. It was a classic car with character. The Tree would chime at me when driving over a bump or when I “gently” tapped on the dash. Sometimes she chimed for no reason at all. We joked that she would chime if you donated coins to the change box below the radio … and sometimes she did.

Fully equipped with turbo, The Tree left many surprised victims trailing in the dust. In fact, it was often difficult to determine its exact speed: the speedometer sometimes fluctuated radically. On one occasion there must have been fifteen people piled in her trunk as we fled from a high school hazing scene. I wasn’t sure if I was going 70 or 30 mph.

It is possible that the wagon I saw on the corner of 86th Street and Madison Ave was The Tree. I inspected the car the best I could without looking too obvious. Mostly, I was looking for a specific marking. My Tree had a perfect circle burnt into the fabric on the inside of the driver’s side door. One soccer practice a teammate with questionable citizenship thought it wise to brand the car with a cigarette lighter.

You see, we sold her years ago, I believe it was in 2001. She was having a few problems, and she developed a bad smoking habit. A nice looking woman bought the car for a fair price. My father outlined the known problems and made sure she understood the sale was final. A week or two later, a not-so-nice-looking woman returned the car and demanded a refund. The little rascal didn’t want to leave. My father refused. She left the car with us without a refund. Sadly, we shipped The Tree to the chopping block, a local junkyard. Her location is now unknown.

I have lived in Idaho, Alberta, and New York. I have seen trees in all three places. Yet, I was still unable to confirm The Tree sighting. If I find this car and it is possible, I will purchase her freedom and let her roam the forests of the Great Northwest. If you or anyone you know has any information to The Tree’s whereabouts, please contact me.