Memories of Uncle Ho's grandparents' ancient jackfruit tree

The jackfruit tree was quite large and rough, casting shade in a corner of the yard. Every time the jackfruit was ripe and fragrant, we often picked it and offered it to the altar to worship the ancestors of the Hoang Xuan family and Uncle Ho's maternal grandparents with deep gratitude. In the years before the tree died, the fruit gradually thinned out and there were seasons when the tree no longer bore fruit. The tree trunk gradually rotted, and the leaves became fewer and fewer. Despite the efforts of many plant experts, they could not save it.

As of April 2020, according to the relic records kept at Kim Lien Relic Site, this jackfruit tree is over 130 years old. It is older than Uncle Ho, the only tree from the time he was alive. During his time living in Hoang Tru land with his grandparents, parents, siblings and aunt An, Uncle often played and chatted with his siblings under the jackfruit tree behind this house. A peaceful, cool space preserves the peaceful memories of Uncle's family. In 1961, for the first time after more than half a century of leaving to find a way to save the country, Uncle returned to his maternal hometown, burned incense for his grandparents and ancestors on his mother's side, visited the relics in his grandparents' house and his family's house, and childhood memories came flooding back to him. He was very surprised to see that his grandparents' old jackfruit tree was still there, and he was moved to say: "Is my grandmother's old jackfruit tree still here today?"; “This tree used to have many fruit segments, thin flesh but very sweet”. Uncle clearly remembers its delicious taste, his sweet childhood with his brothers and sisters was very attached to this jackfruit tree. Over time, its large trunk has broken, the trunk we see later is the sprout growing from it.

Not as majestic as other old trees, the jackfruit tree stands alone in the corner of the garden behind Uncle Ho's grandfather's house. Gentle, small but very familiar. I don't know how many times I have introduced it to the admiration, interest, curiosity and love of visitors. I don't know if it's too much when I feel like this "jackfruit tree" is a very respectable old friend. He stood there, silently and listened to us tell stories about Uncle Ho's family, sometimes about life's confidences, the secret secrets of a youth. Sharing and sympathizing with us on hot summer days, with the scorching Lao winds. Someone once said: "Silence is also a wordless language". Not everyone can feel that sweet feeling. Is it because I love him so much that I think of him like that? Actually, in our lives, familiar things are always a part of our memories. I myself have often seen "the old man" for the past 15 years, now that presence is no longer there, the feeling of the bright summer days, still there, the familiar corner of the garden but not soothed by the old man's leaves, the feeling of loss, emptiness and sadness. Miss!

Life and death are the laws of life, so are plants, flowers and leaves, all have their own lifespan. More than 130 years is not a short time, but what is attached still wants to be held on to. I don't know if it is a good thing that wants to be passed on or not. Right at the old jackfruit tree, a small jackfruit tree has grown, we are taking good care of it. With the hope that it will replace the old jackfruit tree, become green again, sprout, bloom, and bear fruit for the best things.

Lost in regret but what has been left in the memories of visitors will last forever. When thinking about Uncle Ho, about his homeland, there is always the image of this ancient jackfruit tree. Now the jackfruit tree has become a sacred and memorable relic, having witnessed the changes in part of Uncle Ho's life and of the land of Hoang Tru - where the national liberation hero, outstanding cultural celebrity President Ho Chi Minh cried out when he was born.