Autumn In New York

Autumn is the best time of year in New York.

The air is crisp and clean. The leaves are turning color. People seem more animated.

Today, I saw my favorite Autumn incident.

On my walk to the subway each morning, I pass a series of businesses owned by people who have immigrated from Eastern, er, Central Europe. The street is often bustling with men yelling at each other and bundled-up women picking over vegetables. It's very New York. It's very Brooklyn.

There is a fish mongerer that opened in a new space a couple months ago. The men who run it are rude and unfriendly and loud and they smoke too much and they litter. I have never entered the establishment, though I might like to someday. The men hanging about make it very unappealing.

Each morning someone is out front sweeping the sidewalk. This morning, the man sweeping had a big task, as the tree in front of the store was dropping leaves faster than anyone could ever sweep them up.

I make it a point to say hello to everyone I encounter on the street, especially the shop workers. Today, the man saw me approaching and he shook his head in defeat. As I got closer, he started hitting the tree with the broom.

"Good morning," I offered.

"Morning," he said.

"Is something wrong?" I asked.

"This tree," he hit it with his broom again. "She is throwing too many leaves."

I shrugged my shoulders and smiled. "It's Autumn!"

He waved his had at me and yelled, "Ahhhhhhh!"

I love New York.