Saturday morning:

Remember
when dad would be raking the leaves and he would let you jump into the
pile? I don't. I don't remember my dad ever raking leaves, but I do
recall jumping into piles of leaves somewhere. Maybe it was up Powder
House Park. We also used to fill Johnnies Foodmaster bags with acorns
for the sole purpose of whipping them at each other. I still have a
rake in the cellar that is at least 40 years old. I have it used it to
rake the leaves out from in between the shrubs and plants in the
spring, but rarely in the fall. It is kept mainly as a museum piece.

But
today is the day that I might rake some leaves in my yard, and
afterward I may trim the two trees out front. It is a duty I perform
each spring and every Fall. I even borrowed the guy next door's big
extended-length trimmer (I have a shorter version), but it has been in
my side hall for almost three weeks. Today may be the day. The day
after the tree clipping leaves the old body pretty sore. It's all that
reaching and stretching to get the top leaves on the trees. But it is
time, I fear. When the tree branches are cut they will need to be
picked up and stuffed into the waste barrels and yard bags. I hate that
part even more. It's all that bending.

The city will be picking
up yard waste pretty regularly for the next several weeks so I have no
excuses. Yes I do – I hate raking leaves. Everywhere you look are
"Complete Yard Care" companies blowing, raking and gathering leaves
from peoples properties. It must be nice to be able to have someone do
that work for you. I actually have a friend who has a thriving business
which he started with just one lawn mower.

Here is my
philosophy: the word is "leave." The Lord is trying to tell us
something. "Leave" them there. Didn't you ever hear of mulch? I have
never, ever raked the leaves from my yard in the Fall. But
miraculously, every spring, most have disintegrated and the rest I can
rake easily, because they are shriveled, wet and rotted. Some would
say, that raking leaves is a job for my two able-bodied sons! I say,
getting them to take the dog out and put their dirty socks in the
hamper are major accomplishments and I don't want to push it.

I'm
saving up the favors when it comes to those two. I may need them to
actually carry, lift, push, roll or pull me in the future when I am
shriveled, wet and rotted.

It is now 8am on Saturday morning.
I am going to make some coffee and take out the dog (the boys won't be
up until at least 10am). Then I will attempt to straighten up this
pigpen we live in. I will empty the dishwasher and the clothes dryer. I
will get back to you later on either the success, or failure, of the
tree trimming and perhaps a little raking. Remember, it's Saturday and
there is a lot of college football on!

Saturday night:

I
spent three hours with the tree pruning thing and my muscles are aching
(I know, wah wah!). I would jump into a nice hot Jacuzzi if the gaskets
were not worn away. The last time I tried using it, it leaked through
the floor and flooded the first floor bathroom. The boys actually
surprised the heck out of me by doing a great job of cleaning and
straightening up the house. I jammed the cuttings into a barrel and two
yard bags, but I did not do any raking.

My neighbors have been
vigilant about raking over the last few weeks and the leaves just keep
coming back. They are not finished falling yet – it is still Fall,
after all. I may drag the rake out when the trees are close to bare.
I'll clear the leaves off my sidewalk and stairs if it poses a walking
hazard, but that's it. Why break a decades-long tradition of not
raking? If you can't find your gloves, you will end up with a blister
or two on your hands from the rake. All sensible signs point to leaving
the leaves there.

There is, of course, the neatness factor to
consider. The neighbors properties do look nicer after the leaves are
picked up, but it is only November 11th and the trees are still
dropping their colorful gifts. At Powder House Park it is basically
raining leaves. To me it's crazy to rake until the leaves have stopped
falling, not that I 'm going to rake at all.