Light Hearted

As October settles in here in Michigan, autumn is at its peak. The streets in our subdivision are lined with trees showing off a brilliant spectrum of reds, yellows, oranges, and the last shades of green, making every drive a scenic experience. Some trees are already bare, carpeting lawns and sidewalks with their fallen leaves, while others still hold onto their colors. But as gorgeous as the scenery is, it also brings on that seasonal chore: leaf cleanup! Every weekend, you can hear the hum of lawn mowers and leaf blowers echoing through the neighborhood as we all tackle the mountains of leaves.

I joined the cleanup crew last weekend, armed with my trusty (though slightly worse-for-wear) leaf blower. Its zipper had broken, but luckily, Vani saved the day with her sewing skills. She swapped in a new zipper, and soon enough, I was back to mulching and bagging leaves. Leaf vacuuming is no small task—if you’ve ever used one, you know it’s often tougher than mowing, especially when the leaves pile up across the lawn. So, as a little reward to myself, I picked up an electric lawn mower on clearance. This thing is amazing—no more gas or oil, just a quick battery charge, and it’s ready to go. Usually, I have someone handle the mowing, but they take a break in November, and leaf cleanup isn’t included. I think this new mower and my repaired blower will make the job a little easier as fall goes on.

With yard work tackled, Vani and I took a bit of time to do our civic duty. Early voting began in Michigan, and we headed to the community center this morning, thinking it’d be quick. To our surprise, the line was already long—over 100 people ahead of us at 9 a.m.! Clearly, there’s plenty of enthusiasm this year, and with such a close race, Election Day should be an interesting one.

And of course, October isn’t just about voting and leaves—it’s also full of festivities! Diwali is coming up, and Indian folks in my office are planning a Diwali party for everyone in the building. The menu they’re working on is massive, with more dishes than I think anyone could try in one go! There’ll be a spread of Indian snacks, specialities, and traditional desserts. It’ll be a feast, and I’m looking forward to seeing everyone enjoy the flavors and colors of Diwali right at work.

We’re also hoping to visit a cider mill this weekend. There’s nothing like fresh cider and warm donuts, and that spiced, buttery corn on the cob always hits the spot. A sunny afternoon by the riverside, surrounded by fall colors, is one of my favorite ways to enjoy the season. Here’s to making the most of every day before winter quietly sneaks in.

Wishing you all a beautiful fall, full of color, celebration, and a few moments of peace amid the chores—until next time!