Place Where You Live:

Philip, South Dakota

A Tree House in Philip, South Dakota

When I was younger, my sisters and I were always playing in our backyard. When I think about my home and where I am from my backyard is one of the first things that comes to mind. Philip, SD has a few cowboys and places to eat and that’s it. Only 800 people reside in this small town so you have to be creative to find fun.

My sisters and I loved to play in our tree house that our dad and a family friend built for us in a large cottonwood tree. This cottonwood tree has connected me to many of my childhood memories I shared.my sisters. The homemade tree house wasn’t exactly the best looking structure, but to us it was like a castle. This is where I spent the majority of my summer days and nights. My sisters and I would pack up our toys for the day in a backpack, and haul them up to the tree house. My mother would sometimes even bring our lunch out to us, because we wouldn’t go back inside.

Just as we have aged so has our tree house. It is looking very rundown, and it is probably not even safe to be in. I look at it now and see how small it looks; I wonder how we fit so many little girls, and all of our things in it. It has been vacant for a long time now, and I’m sure it won’t be long before it is taken down. It is sad to think that there will be a time when I will look in the backyard and the tree house will no longer be there.

I have become connected to my backyard and tree house, because it is still the place I call home. My backyard tree house still holds memories that I shared with my sisters.