Changing of the Seasons...

Have you ever stopped to listen to the sound of leaves blowing down a road? 

The scratch of the dried edges hitting the pavement. 

The skitter sound of a leaf that doesn't take flight but just skims along.

The almost whispering sound of a group rustling together as a gust takes them, swirls them around, then drops them back to the ground. 

Do you think they are wondering how they got there?

Just a few weeks ago we were living our best lives soaking up the sun hanging out on branches. Then there were those glorious days where everyone walking by stopped to stare at us. Oh so beautiful. What bright colors!

How did we end up in a pile on the street? 

Being tossed by the wind. 

Trampled on by children.

Raked, blown, MULCHED.

How did this happen?

Have you ever seen a giant pile of leaves in someone's yard from all of their trees and wondered if they were catching up with each other. 

What did you do this summer? How was it over in elm corner? The oaks had a great time! New family of squirrels moved in. Oh what nuts they are. Oh my no, pun not intended!

All tidy and piled up and then WHAM! a kid or a dog or both jumping in and scattering them all over. Do you think they find it fun or terrifying? Are they in on the game or panicking because everyone they were settled in with are now scattered everywhere. 

What about the ones that get chosen for school art projects? 

Do you think they feel special? Pretty? Fancy? Like their shot at the Met Gala. 

Or is it a feeling of sacrificing yourself for the rest of the group. I'll go. You stay. Beware the kindergarten children...they are coming for you.

Does the glue chafe? Not to mention the melted crayons. Is that a spa treatment or a torture device?

They say to let the leaves stay on your grass now. Don't rake them up. Leave the leaves alone. Let them become homes for butterfly larva. Protection for the bees. Let them naturally breakdown in the weather. Feed the plants they way they are supposed to. It's not messy, it's nature. 

Do you think the ones that get to stay panic when the wind blows? They know in their yard they are part of a whole. In the Johnson's yard they are fodder for the bonfire. 

They do not feed the lawn, protect the bees, house the butterfly larva. IT'S WORMS, GLADYS! JUST FANCY WORMS!

Do you ever watch the leaves and wonder...

"Hey, whatcha thinking about?"

"Hunh? Oh nothing, just watching the leaves blow in the wind."