Many years ago, on one warm summer evening while walking down the streets of Flin Flon, my nose caught the fragrance of a blossoming linden tree. I managed to locate it and discovered it to be a single, full grown blossoming tree; a tree of my childhood dreams.
Over the years, I found no other linden tree on Flin Flon property and I claimed this one to be my own. If anyone else wants to claim it, they are welcome to do so.
My tree is a symbol of love, friendship and loyalty. It has been the subject of poems, legends and history for thousands of years. It gives a human look to the monolithic concrete at the Forks. There are hundreds throughout Kildonan Park and elsewhere in Winnipeg. Every hundred-year-old prairie town that was built was planted with linden trees on their main streets.
During Flin Flon warm summer evenings, the intoxicating fragrance of the blossoming linden tree will pass down the hill to my new home and a beautiful voice will ask me, “How are you today?” The answer will be the same, “Just fine.” It is going to be like that.
Farewell, my friends,
Dr. Peter Kucparic
