The Maple

Tuesday morning as I drove down New Bern to take Daniel to school, the most glorious Maple I'd ever seen caught my eye. It was set ablaze in vivid reds and oranges as it towered in the morning light. All week I watched that tree thinking I should get out and pick some leaves. Later we went to Fred Fletcher Park, and Daniel and I collected leaves to press but all I could think about was that giant Maple. Today I stopped by the tree on the way to Daniel's school and after dropping off Daniel at Mom's Morning Out, I drove around town for nearly thirty minutes with the sole intent of admiring the fall colors. Thievishly, I pulled the car aside to snatch fallen leaves from the road side or the edges of a front yards. Soon, I found myself back on Seawell and New Bern to look at that Maple. It stood in contrast to a sleepy beige house whose lawn it decorated. Some of the fiery reds had cooled and many leaves had fallen, but still I hopped out to grab one off the road. Picking up Daniel, I stopped yet a third time armed with my camera.

The Maple

Leaves on the playground

Yellow Tree on Mordecai