I love modern technology. It gives us a sense that our lives are easier and less worrisome than prior generations. But the "Thomas" in me plus a healthy dose of Ozark pragmatism, makes me look sorta slanchwise at some of the gadgets we use and say; "Wouldn't we be better off if we did it the old way?"
The leaves in my yard needed to be removed, piled and burned. I was offered the use of a gas-powered leaf blower; which seems the most logical, reasonable, sensible and least physically demanding option available.
I politely declined and opted for the raking method.
"Why?" you ask? Well, raking leaves is good physical exercise and helps me maintain my "girlish" figure!! If I was a "tree-hugger", I would say that there are environmental benefits to raking vs blowing. And there is the financial aspect to be considered: A $20 rake compared to a $150-$300 leaf blower.
But none of these are the real reason I rake my leaves. It mostly has to do with memories...
Many fall evenings, when I got off the school bus and looked up the long driveway toward the Homeplace; I would see my old Dad, out in the yard, raking up the leaves. The Homeplace was surrounded by several large white oak and red oak trees and one lone blackjack oak in the front yard. Dad would wait till most of the leaves were down and then he was on a mission to clear the yard of leaf litter!
The leaves would be raked into windrows of manageable size. These windrows were then raked into piles to be removed.
After the piles were made, a large tarp was laid flat and pulled up to the edge of the pile.
Then, with Dad standing on one corner and me on the other corner nearest the pile, we would pull the edge of the tarp taut and then rake the leaves onto the tarp.
After the pile was raked onto the tarp (or as much as it would safely hold), I would pull the four corners of the tarp together, sling it over my shoulder and trudge to the garden or burn pile and empty out the "Santa Bag" of leaves. This was repeated over and over until the yard was spic and span.
When I am raking the leaves up into piles, spreading out the tarp, raking the piles onto the tarp (with just one corner held) and toting them off to the burn pile; my mind just wanders back... I can recall the sure, steady "whisp, whisp, whisp" of Dad's rake; the silence of both of us - since words weren't really needed; the challenge of keeping one step ahead of him with the tarp and toting the leaves; the aggravation of having to do this chore when there were so many other things I wanted to do; the feeling of pride and accomplishment when I looked at the yard at dusk and it was all neat and tidy.
So... Rake? or Blower? Obviously you can choose for yourself; but for me; I'll just rake.- the memories far outweigh the ease and time-savings...
