We are only in mid-September, but marauding winds have already struck our field, bringing down hundreds of drowsy leaves.
With 7 large healthy trees (planted years ago by the likes of Louis Toulon and Charles Davantes) we arguably have one the nicest field in the Bay Area. But like a prized heirloom, it requires a lot of care, especially before a tournament.
Starting in September, it seems to be futile to scrub the playing areas when you know that the next gale will bring all the previous efforts to naught.
Why should we attempt to remove the leaves anyway? A bare field looks cold and shivering while a blanketed area looks cozy and appealing…
If some people can play in driving rain, I don’t see why we could not play on a golden blanket.
Because there is magic in a carpet of autumn leaves. It redecorates the courts in many unexpected ways, and it looks like it would almost be sacrilegious to tamper with nature’s work.
“If only humans could die like the autumn leaves, with a splash of beauty and the promise of another season”. ― Shana Chartier
Like a child, I revel in strolling in dead leaves. I like the rustling and the faint scent emanating from the ground. And walking with a pet or a loved one makes it even better.
Fall officially starts on September 23, 2019, but Mother Nature does not care about men-made rules. It does as it pleases…
Fall is also chestnuts time. I still remember the delicious scent of the roasted chestnuts sold in the streets of Paris. They were wrapped in old newspapers cones and never tasted so good…
In my book, any food consumed outdoors tastes twice as good as anything eaten inside. That’s why hospital patients should be taken outside to eat their drab servings. They would get well twice as fast and cut their hospitalization expenses in half.
If somebody would be enterprising enough to roast “châtaignes» on the field, he/she mightget enough traction to get elected to any public office.
Wouldn’t it be fun to have a “châtaignes” hootnanny?
In the meantime, I am dying to know of what really happened in Portland?
How many people showed up? How many stayed in spite of the rain?
How did our people fare? How do you deal with a floating cochonnet?
Being an active participant to this event was good, but what was glaringly missing was a dedicated reporter/photographer. I wonder who could have done the job?
Alain