When I sit down at our dining table, I look right out our second floor window into the red leaves on the maple tree across the street. The north side of the maple is already bare. The other trees in the courtyard across the street lost all their leaves a week ago.

The wind is backing around into the north, and as I sit watching the wind slowly strips one red leaf at a time and sends it fluttering up the street. Red leaves dot the wet stone paving blocks in the street below.

The red maple leaves look particularly brilliant, almost glowing, on this dark, grey, wet day. It’s one of the most beautiful times of year.

happy birthday abs