Gathering Leaves

by Robert Frost

Spades take up leaves
No better than spoons,
And bags full of leaves
Are light as balloons.
I make a great noise
Of rustling all day
Like rabbit and deer
Running away.
But the mountains I raise
Elude my embrace,
Flowing over my arms
And into my face.
I may load and unload
Again and again
Till I fill the whole shed,
And what have I then?
Next to nothing for weight,
And since they grew duller
From contact with earth,
Next to nothing for color.
Next to nothing for use.
But a crop is a crop,
And who's to say where
The harvest shall stop?



If this doesn't speak to you, you have never had a yard full of dead leaves to deal with! They call it Fall for a reason.

I was having a conversation with my oldest sister last evening and mentioned that the company I am currently working for had asked for voluntary overtime so I would be working extra hours next week.  She asked with what I presume was a smile ( it was a phone conversation) " Is that so you can save for a new puppy?" I responded with "Of course!", to which she heartily cheered "Glad you have your priorities straight!"

You see I don't have many vices, I haven't been to the following places in over a year, Starbucks, Keva Juice, Baskin Robbins, Coldstone, the mall, a furniture store, on a "true" vacation, the movies, or a concert. I don't own a single video store card, I only eat out when someone else invites me for a totally social occasion, I don't do fast food anymore, my clothes are pretty much Wal-Mart and Target finds (hopefully on sale), my furniture is an assortment of hand-me-downs, inheritances, and a few new pieces I splurged on when I bought this house several years ago. My car is nine years old and I intend to keep driving it until the wheels fall off, I love my car. I don't color my hair, have NEVER had a professional manicure or pedicure (and don't want one!), make-up is minimal, and I do mean minimal, I own one purse and have had it for five years now. Shoes are practical and comfortable and the one item I will not compromise on for my wardrobe, but I only have 5 pairs total including houseshoes. I could go on and on and on about my frugal lifestyle but surely by now you know more than you ever wanted to know about me!

There is one thing that I will forever be indulgent about, and that is a dog. I drove to Long Island to pick up the last one and I am sure there is a trip in the near future to bring home my next companion. In the dog department, and I know I will catch flak on this, I believe you get what you pay for. I am not a dog snob and if you are happy with your pound puppy I am happy for you! I have met many a great dog who would no longer be alive if someone hadn't opened their heart to them. I admire those that can provide a good home to an unfortunate animal and am happy to fund those programs. I personally like to know a bit more about my adopted furchild's background. I like to know the history behind the breed, I like knowing that most likely this dog will have certain personality and character traits, allowing of course for individuality. I like knowing that a particular breed has a reputation of being good with children since I have grandchildren around. I most definitely like knowing that the dog I have chosen will not shed and cause my asthma to flare up! I believe there is room in this world for pure breeds, mixed breeds, and new breeds to be developed.  My dog is always a part of who I am, which is why I have felt a bit lost since Coire's demise.

So working overtime is a labor of love for the one that will hopefully soon be a part of my life. There are puppies "in the oven" and if it's the right time one of them will be mine before the end of the year, that gives me a few more months to save for my one vice. Yep, priorities, I know what mine are!

First let me say I am NOT bitter, angry, resentful or any of those things about what happened to my job back in July, I truly believe God has His hand on me and things will work out for the best in the long run. I am content to rest in that belief.

That said, I just had to laugh silently to myself today and watch the knowing glances that came my way during a branch meeting in which the visiting corporate managers answered questions. I really wonder if they were aware that someone that used to be employed by them was there on an agency contract....

The question was, "We were told in April there would be no lay offs and yet in July there were lay offs, did you know this was going to happen?"

The answer was: "We said in April there would be no lay offs and there were no lay offs, what we did was a 're-balancing' of staff."

So I guess in the "re-balancing" I ( and 6 other colleagues)  just sort of "fell off" since I was obviously not laid off. I knew I should have stuck with gymnastics! Dragging out my balance ball again, I will be prepared next time.