Falling back

Although I love long light summer evenings, I think Daylight Saving Time begins too soon and ends at least two weeks later than is reasonable.

"Now the afternoons will be short and dark. How can you like that?"

But mornings will be earlier and lighter (for a while.) And long dark evenings are perfect for reading.

Leaves are almost completely off the trees, thanks to yesterday's wind and rain. Sidewalks swept clean are tattooed with dark leaf shapes.

Sparky the cat watches, fascinated, crouched in "attentive hunting cat" position, as big leaves float off the maple tree. Today she dashed out the door to pounce on one that drifted onto the deck. As if it were a bird, she picked it up in her mouth and brought it inside. I think she likes the crackly sound.

One friend is headed into a tribal area somewhere near Bhopal, India. Another spent a recent evening watching stars falling over an island in the South Seas. After three trips in five months, I should be content to be home ...