The Physics Of Falling Leaves

I wish that the leaves would catch up with the Fall temperatures. I wish that the trees would flame red and gold and you could warm your chilled fingers in their color. At the moment it feels as if we have the worst of the season--shorter days, colder nights, and so little of autumn's crowning glory. Still, some leaves are passing on despite the green that lingers and more will follow in their wake. And there's something very satisfying about the crunch of them underfoot when you're out walking--I saw a young man verge from his straight path to intentionally stomp through a small pile of leaves someone had raked up. His smile was exactly like a child's when they jump into an autumnal pile. It's funny how we take so much pleasure in the death of something; laughing and jumping on tiny corpses.