St. Francis of Assisi (Patron Saint of animals and the environment)
My late father once had a statue of St. Francis of Assisi in his backyard. After his passing, my stepmother bequeathed it to me. When we moved to Bent Tree in November of 2018 it was supposed to come with us. Sadly, the movers forgot to pack it and it stayed behind. I was heartbroken.
Recently, a friend who was moving out of Bent Tree allowed me to have their variation of the statue. It now rests near my flower garden area as a reminder of my father.
My father was a Vietnam Veteran who almost died in country when he drove over a land mine and his Jeep flipped on him. A strong and serious man, he was known as a tenacious competitor. Years later, my dad (in his private moments) revealed the gentle giant he secretly was.
Out in his yard, if watched from afar, he could be seen talking to a deer, interacting with birds, or other creatures. He was a lover of dogs, cats, and squirrels. Not being a religious man, I assumed he related to the statue of the saint known for his affinity for animals. Sadly, he never got to visit Bent Tree, its robust mountain wildlife, or my home. He succumbed to the lingering effects of Agent Orange in 2016.
The unspoken influences of a quiet man have left an indelible mark on me. It is in his honor, that I have placed this memento with love.
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