Falling Leaves 2022

Last year, Nov. 19th to be precise, I wrote the first version of Falling Leaves. It’s that time again

This morning, while sitting out on the screen porch, I wondered how much longer I would need to wait for the last 5 remaining leaves on my Beech 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 5 left hanging this morning and now there are 4. 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 things.

Falling Leaves 2021

As I ponder while sitting on the screened porch outside first thing this morning with my coffee and cigarette, I realized that I was focused on how many leaves remained on my favorite tree in our back yard. And then I wondered —- Just how predictable, and boring does your life have to be to get you to the point of counting unfallen leaves?

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 remaining 18 to fall so I only need to pick them up one more time. 

There are 8 dark brown, 4 yellow, and 6 light brown. What’s getting irritating is that the 3 colors fall at their own rate, so predicting the fall of the last one is difficult. I may have to take action. 

The yellow ones are accessible from the ground. I’ll knock those off from the ground. The other 2 colors 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.

Piece o’ cake!