As I contemplated a favorite place this afternoon my mind traveled to many places. It was hard to decide on one!! Knowing that I had to decide on a favorite my mind kept traveling back to where I was…in my own yard blowing leaves.
With a soft breeze fluffing my hair, I armed myself with my leaf blower and attacked the yard. It was me against the wind as I forced theleaves scattered across the lawn into a neat and orderly pile. I could smell the faint scent of leaves burning in the distance and reflected that the very leaves I was forcing into orderly piles would soon face a similar fate.
I wasn’t ready for that yet…to much work to be done with only me to do it. The neighborhood was quiet, and no one else seemed to be outside except for me. I focused on my task and allowed my mind to wander to the time years ago when we lived in an area devoid of trees. There certainly was little maintenance needed to care for that yard. Mow and go…kind of like wash and wear hair. I prefer nice and easy, but after having a postage stamp of a yard with no trees at all I welcomed the tender loving labor needed to make my yard as pristine as the other neighbors.
There is a certain feeling of power that overtakes me when I can use my leaf blower to force the leaves to my will. With the breeze, I was working against the wind at some points. If the wind picked up…cleaning up the yard would become more struggle than it was worth. As it is…the leaves were doing just as I wanted them to, and the yard was quickly spotless except for random piles of leaves dotting the landscape. The song…“who you going to call… Ghost buster” kept playing in my head.
I took great satisfaction in attacking my flower beds and discovering the flowers hidden beneath. The geraniums and mums seemed to spring eagerly forth as I forced the intrusive leaves away that previously hid them. As I thought of all the favorite places I could have described…from the snowy mountain vistas to the sparkling sands of a tropical beach to the soothing sounds of the tides rushing in and out, I came to the conclusion that there was no better place for me to be at this given moment than in my own backyard.
Sometimes you can search the world over for favorite places and be completely miserable wherever you actually are. I found contentment in my own backyard beneath the bare branches. I found solace in the silence, the roar of the leaf blower, and later the laughter of my children that filled the crisp air as they stepped off the school bus and raced to greet me. After a long afternoon of outdoor work, my taste buds craved the ice cold refreshment of a can of Coca Cola. Settling into the comfy couch, I breathed a sigh of relief as I popped open the tab, and took that anticipated first swig. Until next time when I give you another glimpse into the life of a trucker’s wife.
It wasn’t that long ago when all the leaveswere on the trees threatening to hang on indefinitely. I saw simply no point in firing up the old leaf blower until most of the leaves were down. I mean really, why clean up the whole yard only to wake up the next day and discover it carpeted with even more orange, gold, and red leaves?? By last weekend, I truly was to the point where I wondered when and if the leaves would ever find there way to the ground!! The few leaves that had the misfortune of being on the ground were chopped to smithereens by the lawn tractor. What were they waiting for?? Holy hell, it is November! We have had snow by now in past years!
As if reading my mind, Mother Nature decided to join hands with Father Time and get off the pot. When the alarm clock sounded this morning, I awoke to pitch blackness wondering if there could be a mistake. A quick glance at the alarm clock confirmed that it was indeed 7:30 in the morning and time to get my little darlings ready for school. I trudged out to the garage to let the dogs out and was shocked to discover the wind howling and the rain pi$$ing down in sheets when I flung open the back door. Both dogs looked at me as if I had lost the better share of my mind. I can’t say I blame them. I had to pee too, and I sure as hell wouldn’t have wanted to venture out in a virtual monsoon and lift my leg on a tree either. I forced them out long enough to do the deed and rush right back inside. It wasn’t long before I received a text message for a wind advisory from my favorite local news station. It sure looked like a good day to batten down the hatches and stay inside!
After seeing both kids safely on the bus, I watched in amazement as the trees were whipped by the wind and leaves flew down the street. The wind chimes danced making a merry racket and I discovered most of the leaves had found their way to the ground. It was a day straight out of a Disney movie. I half expected to see nannies being blown down the street as they were in “Mary Poppins”, or Winnie the Pooh out flying Piglet like a kite on such a windy day! Does it strike anyone else as amusing that such a windy day should fall on Wednesday?? Or Windsday in Pooh speak?? One thing is for sure, if I wanted to get away, all I would truly need to do is step outside and the wind would blow me right back to start!
I have to admit, I am not quite as over zealous as the elderly neighbor who braved the high winds with a leaf blower today determined to make his yard picture perfect. The day is coming soon when I will arm my leaf blower and attack the leaves like a modern day ghost buster. I will have the mother of a bon fire and make way for the snow that is sure to come. It will be a peaceful day when the wind has dulled to a mere breeze and no rain is on the horizon. At this late stage, I will have to strike soon and get her done! Until next time when I give you another glimpse into the life of a trucker’s wife.
After seeing both kids safely on the bus, I watched in amazement as the trees were whipped by the wind and leaves flew down the street. The wind chimes danced making a merry racket and I discovered most of the leaves had found their way to the ground. It was a day straight out of a Disney movie. I half expected to see nannies being blown down the street as they were in “Mary Poppins”, or Winnie the Pooh out flying Piglet like a kite on such a windy day! Does it strike anyone else as amusing that such a windy day should fall on Wednesday?? Or Windsday in Pooh speak?? One thing is for sure, if I wanted to get away, all I would truly need to do is step outside and the wind would blow me right back to start!
