The Decision

A Decision

Matthew Cosenza

22 Springs ago I was a construction guy in Center City, standing outside on Broad Street, eating my cheesesteak lunch, thinking about what kind of shape my voice would be in for singing at JC Dobbs with my band that night.   I had recently moved back from California, got my “hair-band” hair cut short, got a union card, an ugly truck, and met a beautiful girl named Stephanie ( Sounds like a Springsteen song, so far).  I had just moved into an apartment in Woodbury. Woodbury, for no other reason than I thought the old trees and old architecture were very cool.

By 1990 I had had it. After a month of working 3 floors below ground level with a jackhammer and a filthy dust mask, I said “This Sucks” for the last time. That was my last day of being someone else’s employee.

Earth Day-April -1990…With Stephanie’s support and encouragement, a  $500  loan from my brother Bill, and that same ugly truck, “The Amazing Tree Company”, a company devoted to planting trees, was born!!!  We copied and handed out flyers on foot to new neighborhoods. I made cold calls. Looked for ANYTHING .  Made tons of simple mistakes, and some very expensive mistakes.  What did I know? I was a singer.

 I learned with the passion of a child about my new trade. I pestered everyone who knew anything about plants or stone or ponds to teach me, and to answer my endless questions. The more I knew, the more I realized I needed to know more!  My artistic eye was good, but my techniques needed practice. Lots of it.   I struggled for opportunities to prove myself.  I even stood on Rittenhouse Square handing out saplings on Arbor Day to get WMMR and Pierre Robert’s attention and some free airtime!!!  And slowly, slowly, slowly…things started growing.

We got married! And in 1992 our first son, Danny, was born. Then bought our first house, in North Woodbury. And more growing.  In 1994 Jonathan was born. More slow growth as the word spread and the landscape designs got better, and within a couple more years Amazing Tree Company was getting word- of- mouth business in Woodbury. We had the honor of working for so many fine people in Woodbury; friends..families..churches..organizations, and developed a reputation for craftsmanship, knowledge of plants, and unique designs. Working so frequently, so close to your home is a risky business-you see your work and your customers all the time-and you must live up to your promises…and we did.

In 2000 we purchased a building and flower business in downtown Woodbury, Plaza Florist. This endeavor had many rewards, and although none were financial, they were important to Stephanie and me. We worked hard as a young family, juggling two businesses and two little ones. We made a lot of friends and learned a lot about our strengths, weaknesses, and how valuable time can be. The Amazing Tree Company became AmazingTree,  and was hitting a stride along with the rest of America’s economy. And of course, I started getting restless…….

I wanted to grow the business, get more house, more space, more land, more animals, horses….more of what I saw in the rural areas I was working in. Where the grass was greener. All the while, as I was yearning for this stuff, I didn’t see that my family was becoming happier and more secure in good ole Woodbury. Simultaneously, some in town weren’t thrilled with AmazingTree’s operation.

Following the dictate of the city, we had to relocate the business in 2006.  I found a five acre piece of land with potential in Franklin Twp, and I did my best to persuade everyone in the family that it would be great out there in the wild, wild west. SO eventually it was good bye to our home, our neighborhood, and friends.  Lots of tears.  Lots of quiet.  And in case you don’t know where Franklin Twp is, yes, it is in New Jersey. And yes it is in Gloucester County. In fact it’s about half an hour from just about everywhere. We still miss the old days. Of course, you move on.

Thus far the great common thread in my career is that my timing stinks. Gas prices reached about 4.30 per gallon as my work trucks drove an extra 60 miles a day. Our home expenses doubled, and my business, along with the rest of the economy started the slippery slide into the next recession….

The Present- February- 2010

Our older son Danny is now a Senior at Delsea H.S., Jonathan is a Freshman, Stephanie is becoming very, very good at Mosaic Art, and I am looking for a way out of AmazingTree. I’m sick of it. Sick of 20 years of problems, and nowhere estimates. The lack of work. The ridiculous price of doing business in New Jersey. The low profit in landscaping. The stress on my family. The workers. All of it… And I have a job offer after 1 interview with a company in Moorestown, who, for a simple signature on a contract, and a cashing of their check, will take the whole damn AmazingTree off my hands. Simple! Done! Finally , Good Timing!!!  

one problem though…. I’m unable to decide…totally unable for a month to decide….its agonizing.  Stephanie tells me with her sincere, green eyes that she will be ok, and we’ll be ok, with whatever I decide…which makes it even harder…

2.5 years ago

I got a phone call from Lourdes Hospital’s Wellness Center. They are looking for a design for a property on Haddon Ave. A meditative garden based on St Francis’ “Canticle of the Creatures”, a prayer/poem he wrote directing praise and honor to God for His elemental creations….the Sun , the Moon and Stars, Water, Wind, Mother Earth, Fire, and lastly Death and Peace.

Cool. Much better than replacing a dead Holly!   I fell in love with the idea and the project. And the Franciscan Sisters, Helen and Marianne, fell in love with my design which emerged a couple months later.    The Canticle Garden was the most rewarding design project I’d ever worked on. It encompassed all the feelings I’d ever felt about God and Creation poured into a little poorly drained 50 x 125 foot vacant lot in Collingswood.

The Garden’s construction took months of work, but by the time the Sisters had actually told me to “go build it’, I had already spent 2 months there in my imagination. In my mind it was already built!      I had already seen the little kids splashing in the water of the 2 fountains, heard the wind in the grasses, spent time in the gatherings around the stone courtyard, and felt the sun warming the faces of the old friends resting on the benches. I was immersed the whole time it was being drawn and then lovingly built. 

Then, I turned it over for everyone to enjoy. And there is a journal there in a painted mailbox for visitors to write down their prayers and reflections if they wish, expressing what the garden helped them feel.   Sister Helen suggested I think peacefully, and just ask God to be with me as I thought . So a couple weeks ago, after all the snow was gone, I went there to pray.

What then ?  A DECISION… I came to the realization that I’m very grateful for the last 20 years. For learning a craft centered on the Nature that I adore.  For the opportunity to express my talent.  For the great people I’ve met along the way. For the opportunity America allows us. I’m grateful that people have given me the trust to help them take their visions for their homes, and make them part of reality. I’m grateful to my wife and kids for believing in me, and helping me see what love and commitment is all about.

So this Earth Day, April 19, about a month from now, AmazingTree will begin our 21^st year.  There’s the decision!!!!!  To renew my career and my family business instead of trading in.  Our clients and friends have been too good to us to walk away from!  .  And I make a promise to listen, learn, respond, communicate, design, create, cherish, and care for those customers, friends and family with all the tools and strength I’ve been blessed with.          And to never lose faith.     

Peace and thanks. Matt