Falling Leaves 2023

This morning, while sitting out on the screen porch, I wondered how much longer I would need to wait for the last 2 remaining leaves on my Redbud tree to fall. If you recall, as I’m sure you will, I will not rake up the grounded leaves until ALL leaves are on the ground. I will not waste energy with multiple rakes.

There were 2 left hanging this morning. They never fall while I’m looking. Is the tree messing with me? Well, I’ve got time to kill. I can wait.

After 7 years of full retirement, one thing I have learned is don’t rush into anything.

I was reminded of a scene in a Chevy Chase movie where he’s a writer, like me, not a very good one, and he’s suffering from writer’s cramp. He’s seated next to an open window getting more frustrated when a little sparrow perches on the window sill and he douses it with a cup of steaming hot coffee.

I’m so deep into the minutia of the moment that I realize that I’ve counted the remaining leaves. Now that’s not to say there’s no purpose behind the counting. The leaves have been falling for over 2 weeks and I’m waiting for the last 2 lonely leaves to fall so I only need to pick them up one more time. 

 What’s getting irritating is that the 2 remaining colors fall at their own rate, so predicting the fall of the last one is difficult. I may have to take action. 

The yellow one is accessible from the ground. I’ll knock it off from the ground. The other one will require an innovative use of the rake but, I think they can be reached. 

This will be my project, my major accomplishment, for today. Tomorrow, the plan is to flick the insect which has been loitering on the outside of the screen. I think I can reach it from ground level. One project at a time.

One project at a time.