A new ring is added every year, and thicker rings represent a kind of savings account, when the tree collects more nutrients than it can use.

VOA: standard.2010.04.05

It was wonderfulhaving her home. Every day we'd take a walk, and I'd jabber onlike a monkey in a tree, and she'd listen aboutPing-Ponging and shrimping and Mama makinga trip up to heaven.

VOA: standard.other