musings

NOSTALGIA---that certain something that calls back to memory something from the past. On my afternoon walk I experienced it once again. Someone was burning leaves and the odor from the smoke brought back to mind childhood memories--raking leaves into a giant pile and then running and jumping on it. What kid hasn't done that? Or what about burrowing oneself in the pile? And then there were those times when we were encouraged to bring selected leaves (as to beauty) to class for demonstration. I know my mother was tired of the many I brought home for decorative purposes.

Now that I am in my 60's the sight of leaves on the ground leaves me feeling rather despondent. It means a sore back and tired, aching arms from long hours of raking and placing them into paper bags for the township to pick up. It means hauling some 30 of them out by the road. Somehow Fall has lost some of its charming appeal.

Speaking of leaves, one of my neighbors is obsessed over his. The other day I drove by his house on the way home. He was out in his front lawn with a blower trying to blow every leaf off of his lawn. It was comical to watch him. I almost rolled down the window and shouted, "Hey, you missed one!" Doesn't he know that within minutes a gust of wind will bring his neighbor's leaves over.

I don't know about you, but I think its best to wait until they're all down---especially your neighbor's to the west.

There has to be more to life than having a perfect-looking lawn. My neighbor must be bored. Perhaps I should encourage him to volunteer some of that energy to something that will benefit mankind. Not that there is anything wrong with a nice looking lawn. I just have this "stewardship of time" thing going. Oh well, I'm only musing, so take it for what its worth.