Savage Words: One day in autumn did a number on me

I love fall.

I think most of us do. Truthfully, I don’t think I’ve ever heard someone complain about it. 

Maybe, perhaps, I’ve run into a few folks over the years who are sore that summer has ended, or that the cooler temps have made their allergies go out of whack, or – heaven forbid – someone orders a pumpkin spice latte. 

But I dig it. It’s clearly my favorite season of the year. Truth be told, spring is my least. When I see flowers start to come up in March and April, it depresses me. That’s weird, I know. I guess it’s the Edgar Allen Poe in me.

The dreary, rainy, wet, gloomy days of my time living in Seattle was my vibe. Thankfully, we get a bunch of those days this time of year in South Dakota.

But one thing that’s a challenge for me each fall – and it was no different last weekend – is yard clean up. 

It’s the same routine we all do each year just before Halloween hits. The cutting down of bushes and trees, along with cleaning out the gutters as they prepare for winter’s wet weather.

And then, there’s the picking up of leaves. A few years ago, I wrote a story for the Journal about the Brandon Valley Area Chamber of Commerce’s ‘Rake the Town’ event. That was an eye-opener. The folks that volunteer and rake leaves around town for those that need the assistance made it look effortless. Seriously, they’d complete an entire yard and de-leaf it in what seemed like just minutes.

That’s never been my experience. Minutes, sure, but it’s like 180 of them.

Last Saturday was a real challenge, and if anyone would have gotten video of me trying to clear my yard, they would have been the grand prize winner on America’s Funniest Home Videos.

I should have known better, considering the wind gusts that swept through the area on Saturday. Leaf gathering and windy conditions don’t mix, sort of like trying to catch a tiger by its tail.

But my time was limited, and my window to pick up leaves just happened to coincide with South Dakota’s apparent monsoon season. 

Trying to open the paper leaf bag was hard enough as the wind grabbed the bag and transformed it into a sail. I swear there were a couple of times that if I would have hung onto that baby, I would have ended up down the block.

I also noticed during my struggle, that I was the only one in my neighborhood trying to tame the prairie winds. Clearly, my neighbors were smarter, and likely sitting inside with a cup of hot cocoa, shooting video of me.

After a while, I wised up and put the paper bag inside my big plastic trash container. I’d seen someone else do that once – you know–- a smarter neighbor than myself.

The practice of the bag inside the container worked…for a bit. I got a couple of bags completed before a gust of straightline wind came roaring up my neighborhood.

The plastic container, coupled with the paper bag nestled tightly inside, just took off and raced down my street. Literally, raced down my street at speeds that would make a Huset’s Speedway veteran blush.

I know the Chamber of Commerce is hosting ‘Rake the Town’ again this Friday. Chamber Executive Director Rachael Neiman told me they’re still looking for volunteers to help.

I told her I’d spread the word, but considering my comical battle last weekend with Zeus and Thor and all they had to throw at me, that’s the best I can do.

In the meantime, I’m getting my shovel ready for what’s ahead, Jack Frost be damned.