But then I remember the "why".
The year we bought our house, we also purchased that super duper combination leaf vac-blower-mulcher. I thought it would be a PRACTICAL decision. Despite having a fairly small yard, there were plenty of trees and I anticipated filling MANY bags of leaves. Use of power equipment would allow us to EFFICIENTLY and QUICKLY remove leaves.
So that 1st year, my son and I had great fun blowing the leaves into piles ... then using the vacuum hose to gather up all the leaves ... while the mulcher did what mulchers do. There were also a few invisible monsters captured and medieval dragons slayed in our battle to re-capture the lawn. Yet I was surprised by the number of leaf bags that still had to be carted to the compost site – as well as the amount of time actually required to get the yard ready for winter.
The 2nd year, doing the yard work didn't contain as much enthusiasm and imagination as it had the year prior. The 3rd year, the prospect of leaf removal was viewed with a certain amount of dread. And the holes in the bag (caused by sticks captured along with 2 years' worth of invisible monsters) promised to reduce the efficiency and speed of leaf removal.
The 4th year, I decided to pull out the rakes.
So the rakes came out and piles of leaves were built. It was then I noticed that my son was actually ENJOYING our time of leaf raking. And on more than one occasion, when I thought he was actually raking and bagging, I'd see him playing "hide-and-seek" (among the leaf piles) with the family dog or running and leaping into the mounds, thereby undoing all of his hard leaf raking work. Periodically we'd engage in Mom-and-Son chats. We'd talk about school, friendships, his worries, dreams and plans ... discuss the wild critters that shared the yard ... take time to look at the trees and wonder about the different colors and shapes of individual leaves. And, as with that first year, there would be the occasional pursuit of a dragon or perhaps, an invisible monster to capture.
Looking back on those days (when I raced to get the yard "ready" for winter), I tend to forget the number of leaves bagged. I can hardly recall the number of trips to the compost pile. But what I do remember are the quiet chats ... the important topics casually covered ... the giggles and laughter ... the times of silence peacefully enjoyed.
But then my Son did what Sons are supposed to do. He grew up. And raking became more a chore and less a play. Eventually, my Son moved away to begin a new life and career.
Each fall, as I rake the leaves in my little postage stamp of a yard, I have a moment when I wonder why I ever sold the super duper combination leaf vac-blower-mulcher. But then I remember watching my son and our little Shih Tzu chase each other through big piles of leaves. And I see a young boy changing and growing into a man. Then I take a few moments to look (with that remembered sense of wonder) at the various shapes and colors of individual leaves that fill my yard.
Last night, a young Mother and her son stopped by my yard for a chat. The young boy looked around at all the leaves in my yard. Then he turned to me and said,
"You know. I could help you rake those leaves. And I'll even bring my own rake."
So we had a little conversation about the business of leaf raking (as young Mother looked on) and came to the agreement that I could certainly benefit by his help.
I'm looking forward to leaf raking this year.
It's been awhile since I've had any help capturing the invisible aliens and dragons in my yard.
