It’s that time of the year once again when we’re 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” – Nat King Cole – 1955) By the way Sinatra recorded a nice New York version of “Autumn Leaves” in 1957.
I’m always annoyed whenever I see folks 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 useful like fireplace logs or 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 kitchen floor…not to mention the cat
Speaking of leaf blowers, which I just was, persons using one of those annoying contrivances within the city limits of Santa Monica can be ticketed and subjected to a $200 fine. Wish we had a county ordinance like that one in this county. Annoying? You betcha, especially when the neighbor cranks his up way too early on Saturday morning, while I’m still snoozin’.
In the meantime, I could get rid of those pesky leaves the old-fashioned way, with a rake. I always hated raking leaves when I was a kid. It was something my pappy insisted on every Saturday morning. Back in the day…I don’t recall what day it was, we didn’t have pine needles and oak leaves. It was mostly eucalyptus, sycamore, avocado and orange leaves. 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 oughta 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. If it ain’t leaves, it’s weeds or ants or snow. Let’s face it, it wouldn’t be me if I didn’t have something to complain about, and this week it’s autumn leaves. By the way, why the heck is there an n at the end of autumn? It should be spelled just like it sounds…autum.
Since you went away the days grow long and soon I’ll hear old winter’s song, but I miss you most of all my darling when autumn leaves start to fall.
‘
Keep it flyin’,
Uncle Mott
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