4000 years. That's a long freakin' time. Not many things last that long. I'm pretty sure my Subaru Forester would rust into a heap of burnt umber oxide, the tires rotted and crumbled, the plastic dash and signal covers long cracked and consumed by UV light, if left exposed for 400 decades. There would mostly likely be nothing to ever tell of its existence. (Hell, I hope it lasts me 2 more years, then I'd be happy.) Enter the Great basin bristlecone pine:
This tree laughs at eternity. It scoffs mortality. A thousand years of time... merely its youth, another grand....middle age. A lightning strike or 12, a forest fire or 3, floods, droughts, you name it.....It still lives on. Three thousand years....Just chillin. In today's fast pace, disposable world, something this long lived is almost incomprehensible. Time moves so fast. I know I'm just a blip on the radar screen of reality. My daughter is growing like a weed, things in my body hurt that didn't used to. Change comes daily. I've gotta give respect to the bristlecone pine and it's creator for reminding me of just how miniscule my tenure on the planet is. Those sobering thoughts are often the kick in the pants I need to get things done, asap!
But, I don't need 4000 years. Give me 80, (ok, maybe 100) and I'll be happy. Hopefully I'll age as well as the old bristlecone.. Only time will tell.
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