Looks like it was falling over anyway. If this little thing is 50 years old, it must be on fully dwarfing rootstock. The leaning would also fit that situation, the dinky roots that fully dwarf the top also not being enough to hold it up as it reaches full development. But: was anyone selling fully dwarfed apple cultivars 50 years ago? It probably won't die but as mentioned it will have to be worked with to get a decent shape back. Likely threats to long-term health are burning and cracking of the tops of the now fully exposed main branches, and failure to recover from its stored energy reserves being reduced by the removal of most branches - and depleted by the growing of new ones. Mature trees may be thrown enough out of balance by brutal pruning that they never regain it, and gradually sink away like the Titanic. Growth may continue for years but eventually it peters and dies. Chainsaw pruning of apple trees is epidemic out here, one of many ignorant yet pervasive practices. Most old trees have been attacked at some point, and when inspected prove to have serious decay problems in the main branches or trunk.

Off topic, but since calamity brought it up - I was talking to my daughters (3) the other day about how I wanted to be cremated when I go, and I wanted to make sure they were ok with that, my oldest (15) says "well, if that's what you want, but I want your head" I about fell out of my chair laughing. She went deer hunting this last fall with her father and got her first deer - I'm still ambivilent about that - and he's having the head mounted. So I asked her if she wanted to stuff my head and put it on her wall with her deer - LOL :) she was properly aghast at that idea, but then my youngest (almost 11) yells out "I want your body!" I'm hoping she means my arms that hug her and stuff like that, so that leaves my legs for #2, who being 13, just looked at us all and rolled her big blues.

Thank you everybody for your kind thoughts. We got thru the 17th, and then Father's Day. Brycesmommy, you've been so in my thoughts and prayers. Your burden is great, too, and this time of year is especially difficult for you also. The past 2 years, we seem to be especially vulnerable starting with Mother's Day, then Millie's birthday, the anniversary of their deaths and then Father's Day. I do appreciate your kind words and the friends who called us just to say they know how terrible that day was. Somehow or another, we seem to be able to get things together later in summer, and then we function OK until Dave's birthday in October, remembering the glorious day on which he was born, and reviewing his life and how much we loved him. As I may have mentioned, Dave was a fine, fine baseball player in high school and college; he played until his early thirties, and then work and family left him with no time for baseball. He loved the game, and so did all of us. Last year, on June 17th, we visited his high school and walked to the baseball field. It was completely empty, school being out for the summer. On the bench in the home dugout was a single baseball. I think he left it there for us. This year on the 17th, I was walking my only other grandchild (she's 2) home, and there in the midst of a baseball field, newly dragged and devoid of footprints was a baseball! I think (and pray) that he's telling us that he and Millie are fine, but how terribly we miss them. Bless you all who are carrying such terrible burdens. You're in my prayers.

i am 14, my dad died unexpectadly too about three weeks ago, my birthday was three days preceeding the funeral. i have five siblings and a little sister who is eleven. i am my familys stronghold too. you can talk to me because i know what you are going through, honestly, and its really rough. but your dad wants you to be strong for your family. He loves you and is very proud of you for taking this sacrafice for him as a subsutite of his absence. He is your gaurdian angel, if ever you feel like just collapsing, dont collapse in on yourself, please just facebook message me, i can honesly relate to what your feeling. if ever you feel lost or hopeless, just pray to your gaurdian angel, and he will be there for you even when you feel completely independent and you are enduring burden all by yourself, he is right by your side, tracing every step you take and picking up the pieces you dropped or just couldnt handle anymore, and he takes care of them for you, because he loves you and wants you to be happy, if he is with you in flesh or not doesn't matter anymore, now he is with you always, looking down from heaven with a smile, pointing you out to all the saints that pass HEY LOOK THATS MY DAUGHTER!! he is so proud, and he loves you more than you will ever comprehend, and he just wants to let you know that he is there for you, even when you think you don't need him, he is still there, holding your hand walking you all the way through pace by pace, taking baby steps all the way, not excluding any single miniscule detail and leading you through every obsticle you encounter with ease. if ever you feel hopeless, alone, frusturated lost, or worthless, just give your daddy a call, and he'll be right over, before you even ask. this is how i talk to my dad, this is the first prayer he learned, and he taught this prayer to me and my siblings before we even knew how to pray, and thats where our faith started. i suggest you pray it to your dad, it will really be useful during your grieving process and throughout life in general. Just know that your daddy is on your side, and all he wants to do is guide you though what you can't get through alone. You will never be alone again, your dad will always be with you, just recite this prayer while thinking of your dad, and he will listen, and he wants you to talk to him, because he loves you and misses you. Ask him for advice anytime, or just talk to him and tell him how your life has been or something exciting that has happened recently. Nothing with your relationship has to change from what it was like when he was in flesh, except now he can help you with everything you need assistance with, and he will share his expierence with you. He is very proud of you and he loves you, and if you ever want to talk to him and plea for help or just catch up and say hi, just say this prayer, and he will listen and guide you and protect you and ease your burden, afterall, that is what gaurdian angels do! its his new job, and he couldn't he happier with it! Now you have someone to talk to Jesus for you and ease up God when you make a mistake or sin. He will listen, remeber he will always listen and he really does care. Angel of God, My Guardian Dear to whom God's love commits me here. Ever this day be at my side to light and guard and rule and guide. Amen. *if you ever want to talk to someone with expierence, im here for you.