Until two years ago, I had never bought Cindy a present that she truly liked. I tried jewelry, gadgets, kitchen appliances, clothes, car accessories, music…you name it. They’re all “just fine” but not great. That was until the Gas Leaf Blower of 2007. Immediately her face lit up, as if she had just received the winning lottery ticket. She studied it as if it was a fine watch handed down from four generations past.

She looks for opportunities to blow in the off-season. I’ve seen her blow water off our deck, grass clippings off the lawn, and debris out of the garage…but in reality, it is a tool for Fall. So she waits. First the leaves turn color, then the ritual begins. The winds begin to blow, the leaves reach critical mass. She dons the silencing headphones and rubber boots and becomes completely immune to the world around her as she blows. No kid can find her (too dangerous to be near that machine that is both powerful and noisy). She can’t carry the phone because she might lose it in the grass. She is on her own remote island of silence. Starting in one corner of the three-acre yard, she pushes the fallen leaves in consecutive invisible lines, restoring order to the grass below. Hours and hours of leaf blowing. Alas, it’s clean. But she can only enjoy the pristine green for a short while, until the inevitable disturbing winds start the process all over again. About every two weeks she feels the call.

That is until this year. The full-time job  is seriously disturbing the holy blowing ritual. I come home every day, noticing the piling leaves, but dare not say anything. I know she sees it too and the abstinence will only last so long.

Today was the day: Day 3 of a 4-day weekend. At first opportunity, she bolted. Hours and hours. Eventually she had to run out of leaves. Finally, I heard the front door open. Wait, wait…where is she?

Seriously…on the roof blowing pine needles? Oh well, like skiers and snow, you gotta enjoy the season.

# posted by Julie : 8:48 PM