My BW's name is Marilynn. You better not forget that second "n." Actually, her alternate name could well be "relentless." Around three years ago an enormous oak tree was growing next to our driveway destroying said driveway in increments. The BW tried to get the city's permission to cut it down and was refused. Personally, I hated the idea of needing to get permission to cut down a tree which was growing on my property. But defying the eco-freaks would mean fines that could bankrupt Scrooge McDuck. She was told that we needed to get a certified arborist to fill out voluminous forms before the arborist in question could take down the tree. In addition a new tree would need to be planted on the property to take it's place. .However, even if we complied with all of that, we were told that permission would not be granted. After contacting several more tree people, all of whom had the needed arbor specialists on their staff, we were continuously turned down. This went on over a period of three years.Mind you, this was no small project. This tree was the biggest damn oak anyone had ever seen and the entire project would cost nearly $3,000.

We were contacted by a tree guy who apparently went after folks who had been turned down in the past. By this time, we had little hope of overcoming the drunk-with-power village fathers (actually it was a village daughter). Little did we realize that our new tree guy was as relentless as you-know-who. He was one of Reagan's boat people, who had struggled mightily to come to these shores. Even though he spoke no English, he learned, and became a citizen. This was not a man who took no easily. After making three appointments per week in which either him or one of his men showed up at eco-freak's office he wore them down and got permission and today the entire job was done by 1:00 pm. (Other tree guys said it would take two days).
Lots of lessons to be learned from our friendly, efficient ex-Cuban tree removal and planter, the first of which is never give up.