It’s that time of the year when we’re once again blessed with an overabundance of autumn leaves. “The falling leaves drift by my window, the falling leaves of red and gold. I see your lips, the summer kisses, the sunburned hands I used to hold.” (“Autumn Leaves” – Frank Sinatra – 1957)
I’m always annoyed whenever I see people blowing their leaves into the street or their neighbor’s yard. I wish someone would invent a leaf sucker, one that turns those little beauties into something usable like fireplace logs, or how about some “green” fuel for the Mottmobile. I wonder if the Emporium has them?

You know, I haven’t been down to the Emporium since I bought the missus one of those 48 horsepower vacuum cleaners. She only used it once – well, it sucked the tiles right up off the floor…not to mention the cat.

Speaking of leaf blowers, I understand persons caught using one of these annoying contrivances anywhere within the city limits of Santa Monica will now be ticketed and subjected to a fine of $200. Sounds like a good idea to me – wish we had a county ordinance to that effect in this county. Annoying? You betcha, especially when the neighbor cranks his up way too early on Saturday morning, while I’m still in wink-away land.

In the meantime, I continue to rid my yard of those pesky autumn leaves the old-fashioned way, with a rake. I always hated raking leaves when I was a kid, but it was something dear old Dad insisted on nearly every autumnal Saturday morning. Growing up in the OC, we didn’t have pine needles and oak leaves; it was mostly eucalyptus and sycamore leaves.

Nowadays, I don’t mind it so much, and it allows me to commune with nature, as well as get in a goodly amount of aerobic exercise. But still, I long for a leaf sucker. Hopefully it would be one that wouldn’t suck up the cat. And speaking of the cat, he’s been one mean kitty ever since we got him unstuck from the vacuum cleaner.

Soon, Old Man Winter will be upon us. I think I’ll head back down to the Emporium and check out one of those turbo-charged 300 horsepower Behemoth Snow Blowers. That oughtta git ‘er done…I’ll have to remember to keep the cat inside the house, though.

Meanwhile, I still have all these dang leaves to contend with. Every time I turn around there’s more. If it isn’t leaves, it’s weeds or snow or traffic lights or this or that or what have you. Let’s face it, I just wouldn’t be me if I couldn’t find something to complain about, and this week it’s Autumn Leaves.

“Since you went away the days grow long, and soon I’ll hear winter’s song. But I miss you most of all, my darling, when autumn leaves begin to fall.”

Keep it flyin’,
Uncle Mott