Leaves

Photosynthesis is what first produced oxygen in the atmosphere billions of years ago, and it's still what keeps it there. Sunlight splits the water molecules (made of hydrogen and oxygen) held in a plant's leaves and releases the oxygen in them into the air. The leftover hydrogen combines with carbon dioxide to produce carbohydrates, which the plant uses as food—as do any animals or humans who might eat the plant.

That is what the leaf does.

Every spring we see them pop out on the barren sticks to fill the air with a rustle and provide shade from the sunshine. Every fall they turn bright colors then die and fall to the ground.

Neighbors find that quite untidy and proceed to blow the little buggers into the street and away from their green lawns with massive nosey machines. There in a pile the leaves will sit.

There was a time when the city would come by with a giant vacuum truck and suck all that mess up, but they don’t do that anymore. Now it is up to the house owner to rake up the soppy mess and place them in recycle friendly disposable bags beside the trash to be picked up on their normal schedule.

Those who decide to just let fall rot into the spring creates some slippery challenges for those of us who ride two wheels.

Seems after a rain or two the leaves break down to a soup of slithery danger, combined with the wooden marbles can make any roaming a life threatening adventure.

Come the frost and the snow and the sand will all make the decision of should I stay or should I go more difficult.

The piles of rotting Mothernature also make me swerve around closer into traffic, which is not a preferable option. Forgive me for pulling to the curb while you pass, but I found that the best survival tactic.

So settle into wearing another layer and long finger gloves and after the dark days the sun will come out, the rain will wash away the sand and the new leaves will come out to welcome solid traction again.