If you paddle north from Montague Harbour, on Galiano Island, you’ll meet a legendary Douglas fir perched on an impossibly small point. I relate to this tree — strong, solitary, curving, and precariously placed, yet withstanding the onslaught of winter storms. In its enduring beauty, I see myself, grief holding me at the edge of life. Surrounding it are gulls, symbols of spirits that comfort me. This steadfast tree is a reminder of the beauty of resiliance.