Before It's Too Late, A Braided Essay

It has been three weeks since we moved into the new house. Almost all boxes were unpacked except for the ones with the stuff for the attic. We took the challenge upon ourselves to clear these out. Some were filled with photographs, books and others with toys, etc. Dad and I made ourselves comfortable on the floor, clearing out the space to keep the treasure we were about to delve into. We commenced the job, cutting open the tape on the first box.

It was filled with photos from Mom and Dad’s school days. A lot of their friends appeared in the bunch but one person particularly dominated the bunch, Jack. He was my father’s best friend since middle school. They spent all their time together, playing soccer together, starting a band, they did it all together. An album lay at the bottom of the box, labeled “mi casa.” I was taken back to our ancestral house in the countryside. We visited every summer when I was younger; now we go on beach vacations or mountain escapades instead. It is more like ruins now. Deeply engaged in these thoughts, I looked outside. A huge beehive hung right outside the window. The bees appeared busier than everyone else, buzzing from one flower to another.

I wonder why Jack and Dad aren’t such great buddies anymore? How can someone be so close and then suddenly not be a part of your life? I hear regret and pain in Dad’s voice each time he mentions Jack.

I was looking at the album of our house; it was unrecognizable…so grand and graceful. It was no less than a royal mansion, in my opinion. Everyone was having such a wonderful time in the photos. Swimming in the pool, enjoying the swing and the outdoor meals, playing Monopoly in front of the fireplace. It was all so lively. The current condition of the house flashed in front of me; it felt like it had been hit by a storm, completely wrecked of its beauty.

Honeybees not only produce honey, they pollinate 80% of vegetables and fruits we eat. So basically without them, food production will reduce drastically. Being such an important part of our lives they are still heading towards extinction. That’s surprising! It wasn’t that Jack and dad didn’t talk anymore, the occasional “Hey” and birthday wishes were exchanged, but they weren’t close anymore. I wonder why that is? The mansion was built 100 years ago. I am the fifth generation to see it. It is in the worst condition that it has ever been in and it has witnessed wars and the great depression and calamities. I wonder why that is? Bees are harmless compared to the dangers we face today. Yet we destroy their homes and them. I wonder why that is? In putting some thought into the stories I have heard about Jack and Dad, I realized at some point both of them started taking each other for granted. They didn’t realize the role they had in each other’s lives until they weren’t a part of it anymore.

The mansion has been in the family too long; none of its makers live today. Somewhere along the line we forgot the value it had and the memories it held onto. Now when it is distraught, all that is left is regret. What if someone had taken responsibility when the time was right?

If things continue the way they are, bees will not inhabit the planet for the next generations. Will we realize their role in our life before they are not a part of it anymore? Will we take responsibility when the time is right?