Memories of Uncle Ho's grandparents' ancient jackfruit tree

The jackfruit tree was quite large and rough, casting a cool shade in a corner of the yard. Every time the jackfruit was ripe and fragrant, we would pick it and offer it to the altar to worship the ancestors of the Hoang Xuan family and Uncle's 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's trunk gradually rotted, and its 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 Uncle Ho was alive. During the time Uncle Ho lived in Hoang Tru land with his grandparents, parents, siblings and aunt An. Uncle Ho often played and chatted with his siblings under the jackfruit tree behind this house. A peaceful, cool space preserved the peaceful memories of Uncle Ho'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 Ho returned to his maternal hometown, burned incense for his grandparents and ancestors, visited the souvenirs in his grandparents' house and his family's house, and childhood memories came flooding back to him. Uncle Ho was very surprised to see that his grandparents' old jackfruit tree was still there. He was moved and said: "Is my grandmother's old jackfruit tree still here?" “This tree used to have many fruit segments, the flesh was thin but very sweet.” Uncle clearly remembered its delicious taste, his sweet childhood with his brothers and sisters was very attached to this jackfruit tree. Over time, the large part of its trunk broke, the part of the trunk we see now is the sprout that grew 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 dear. I don't know how many times I have introduced it to the admiration, care, 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 his 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 bright summer days, still there, the familiar corner of the garden but not soothed by the leaves of the old man, the feeling of loss, emptiness and sadness. Miss!

Life and death are the laws of life, trees, flowers and leaves too, 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, green again, sprout, bloom, and bear fruit for the best things.

Lost in regret but what has been left in the memory of visitors still remains forever with time. Remembering Uncle Ho, his homeland always has 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.