Cottonwood. Bones.

In the dead of winter after a windstorm, the Cottonwood tree drops their branches that look like curling fingers, swollen joints, claws, and bones. The buds are already forming, before springtime even thinks about waking up. A sticky, rich, dark, golden resin oozes from the buds, which is a pain reliever and anti-inflammatory for rheumatoid arthritis, soothing hands that have clawed their way through the cold. They call us to comfort connections that have become inflamed and painful. Forgive and ask for forgiveness. 

Surprise sweet smelling gold oozes from the buds and instantly invokes images of sunny summer days, memories, oasis, respite, sparkling gold moments, glimmers of what will come, lounging on warm rocks by a river, where Cottonwood grows, when the buds turn to soft cotton floating through the air without a care in the world. A taste of sweet golden sunshine that softly warms your bones.