2002-10-02 3:16 p.m.

I usually leave the top off my car unless there is a risk of rain or a homeless person urinating in it. This is one of the best reasons to live in California.

Today I found a present waiting in my passenger seat. It was the first leaf of autumn for me�the first time I noticed that the trees were getting ready to change fashions.

I kept it with me for the one�hour drive home. The leaf and I did not really talk much the whole way home. Leaves don't tend to be good conversationalists, at least not the leaves I have met. This one sat silently while I sang out songs that I made up as I went along.

When we arrived in San Francisco, I sat the once�green leaf on the ground outside of the car. She would be happier there than in my car or my house. Nature surely had other plans for her�mostly plans involving decaying into the sweet smell of autumn.

It was generous of Leaf to pay a visit to me on my own turf. I was happy for the friendly reminder of the seasons. It was a tickle in the side alerting me that the fall's approach was more serious than the casual flirtation I had assumed.


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