A lesson in the leaves...

My favorite color is green.

My favorite colors are Fall.

Marianne and I drove to and from West Virginia this past week.

Going, the leaves were beautiful.

Coming home, they were spectacular.

There was something extra about them this year that struck

a chord within me.

I reflected on the life of leaves.

That little bud in Spring.

With the rain and sun and nutrients from the roots, it flourishes

into its full strength and greenness, allowing it to ride out

the storms of Summer.

But, it is the Fall that brings out its vibrancy.

Fall is when the leaves take your breath away.

Fall is when you feel their power.

Fall is when you appreciate them.

Perhaps we are as leaves.

Sorry, it ain't here yet......

I know, I know.  It's FALL!!!

Nope.

I don't care what the calendar says.

I don't care that the sun is setting a little after 7pm.

I don't care that there's pumpkin spiced stuff everywhere.

I don't care that I even have had to paw through my sock drawer

because my tootsies get chilly in the morning.

It is not Fall until I have mowed the lawn for the last time

in 2014.

When that happens, I'll be happy to celebrate with you

and don a sweatshirt, sip hot chocolate and put the Hawaiian

shirts away.

I'll let you know when that day comes to pass.

Scratch that.

My wife will let me know when that day comes to pass,

and then I'll pass the word on to you.