Crunch. Crunch. Is there a more defining sound for fall? Leaves have a special place in my heart, they are, to me, the symbol of fall arriving. As much as I wish I could say it’s fall weeks early, it wouldn’t feel quite right until I can look out a window and see a plethora of colors decorating the trees. Deep to bright reds accompanied by bright yellows and greens, only to fall to your feet as you walk on a dark lamp post-lit street with the bright moon shining above. Walking past piles of leaves and fighting the temptation to storm through them all while replaying flashbacks of your younger self jumping in with no abandon. The sound of leaves under your feet, the rustles carried by the wind is what fall is made of. Yes, the hot chocolate and pumpkins everywhere help, but that wouldn’t mean anything without the scenery outside. I can’t begin to tell you how happy I was to go home one day and see the leaves on my street beginning to change their color. I can walk for hours without uttering a single word, perfectly content to listen to the breakage of gorgeous foliage, shortening or enlarging my strides to ensure I step on each and every leaf I come across. Even the worst hassle of fall, picking up the leaves, can be fun if you make it. Save yourself a lot of space and time by crushing the leaves before putting them in the bin by jumping all over them. Although it can lead to a bigger mess than before, it also gives you new memories to hold on to.
