Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Toomer's Corner

Unless you a part of a the Auburn family, the few minutes spent reading this will probably mean absolutely nothing to you. You should know that when I'm a fan..I fan hard, whether it be Supernatural or my Auburn family.

One of the trees before they were poisoned

Today is the day that the Live Oaks that adorn Toomer's Corner in Auburn, Alabama will be removed from the earth. These trees have been a part of Auburn's tradition for decades and their landscape even longer.

Earlier this year

To you they're probably just pitiful looking trees. Maybe you heard about the *insert choice expletive here* Alabama "fan" who poisoned 133 year old Oaks because that team he hates won the Iron Bowl AND the National Championship over the 2010 season.

After the 2010 National Championship

After every Auburn win I would go with my husband and friends to celebrate by visiting Toomer's Corner. The tradition of rolling the trees began many years ago and quickly became one of my favorite Auburn traditions (second only to our eagles Nova or Spirit flying around the stadium before a game). To see something so beautiful and held so dear to so many taken away from us because ONE person wanted to "get back" at Auburn just breaks my heart.

Yes, they are just trees to some, but to me, they're a symbol of not just tradition but one of family. From one person's hate comes something even more beautiful and lovely. This act of hatred brought so many members of the Auburn family together this past Saturday for a reunion and a celebration of all things Auburn. It was a bittersweet goodbye to our beloved trees. We were there on that corner to say goodbye to something that meant so much to all of us and will be forever rooted in our memories but it was also a day of joy spent with friends and reveling in the beauty of those toilet papered trees.

April 20, 2013 for the final roll of Toomer's Corner as well all knew it