I wrote at the outset I didn’t know where our copy of The Giving Tree came from, but I actually learned upon cracking open the book:

Here’s what’s fascinating: the book deeply moves adults regardless of whether they view it as extolling the tree’s unconditional love or lamenting the tree’s self-destructive love. Readers have debated the book’s meaning since its publication in 1964, with the primary disagreement captured by the title of a NY Times Sunday Book Review from 2014: ‘The Giving Tree’: Tender Story of Unconditional Love or Disturbing Tale of Selfishness? Variously interpreted as a picture of parental love, divine love, abusive relationships, or even environmental rapacity, the book sharply divides readers. By the end, the tree is a stump, but the boy - now a tired old man - needs nothing more than a quiet place to rest, so he sits on the tree and she is happy. So the tree gives the boy her apples to sell, her branches to build a house, and her trunk to make a boat. They play together happily every day, but the boy grows up and pursues the trappings of adulthood: money, a house, a family, travel. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Blue Ridge Hospice in her honor.On its face, the story is about a tree’s sacrificial love for a boy. A funeral service was held on Friday, May 19th 2023 at 1:00 PM at the same location. Visitation was held on Friday, May 19th 2023 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Loudoun Funeral Chapel (158 Catoctin Cir SE, Leesburg, VA 20175). She is survived by : her brother Daniel Wright (Ann) her children, David Bates (Julie Duval) of Winchester and Tina Leach (Christopher) of Stephens City her grandchildren, Sage Darden (Bailie Russell), Talynn Leach, Jadynn Leach, Montana Bates, Jacob Leach and Mason Leach and her great grandchild Brooks Russell. She was predeceased by : her father Edgar Milton and her siblings, Eleanor, Sally Wright, Carl, Samuel and David Wright. Leave a sympathy message to the family on the memorial page of Awildia Lucille Wright to pay them a last tribute. We are sad to announce that on May 13, 2023, at the age of 69, Awildia Lucille Wright (Leesburg, Virginia) passed away.

The giving tree illustration