Fall in the gutter

I was walking through the park one autumn day when something happened to catch my attention.  When I glanced down to see what it was, I witnessed an amazing array of texture and color semi-submerged in a puddle of cold rainwater. I was immediately intrigued to see this medley of leaves, and I couldn’t help but look around to see where these beautiful leaves had come from. It’s funny how such can inspire you to more deeply take notice of the world around you. All of a sudden, the yellows and oranges of the surrounding foliage began to jump into my awareness, and the initially imperceptible purples began to call out for my attention. It was such a raw and unexpected experience that my mind began recalling memories from my childhood when I would dig my hands into wet leaves and squeeze them tightly so that they would ooze through my fingertips. I instantly recalled how those very leaves felt and how the cold, wet soil would stick to my hands. It’s amazing how a single captured moment has the power to evoke such visceral emotion.