Thought for the Day - Sept 26

Subject: Thought for the Day - Sept 26
From: Peter T.
Date: 26 Sep 08 - 10:03 AM

Because of a summer of rain, the trees up north where I have been for the last few weeks are only now beginning to turn. Some years ago, as an innocent, I shared a car ride with a Professor of Botany and two Professors of Forestry, as we went to a wilderness retreat. At one point, as we were proceeding through a wood that was a multicoloured spectacle, I turned to my eminent colleagues and said, "So why do the leaves change colour?" That was the last moment of peace for the rest of our journey. Each of these eminent figures had a different theory, which they held to with vicious belief. Voices were raised; cutting words were spoken. Over the ensuing weekend, the three professors hardly spoke to each other, and I am reliably informed that, while they were never exactly friends before, they have been bitter enemies ever since. The cheering part of this for me is that I have never felt as intimidated by experts since; the depressing part is that I still don't know why the leaves change colour.

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Sept 26
From: GUEST,Tom Bliss
Date: 26 Sep 08 - 10:06 AM

I do - but i wouldn't dare try to explain now!

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Sept 26
From: romany man
Date: 26 Sep 08 - 10:09 AM

Its so that they go pretty colours and make people want to make my asthma worse by burning them

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Sept 26
From: topical tom
Date: 26 Sep 08 - 10:16 AM

The answer may be here. Any simpler? Maybe not and certainly lacking the romance!

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Sept 26
From: romany man
Date: 26 Sep 08 - 10:23 AM

Topical tom, yeh thats right as well, ha ha

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Sept 26
From: katlaughing
Date: 26 Sep 08 - 10:33 AM

Wondered where you've been, Peter. Glad to see your TFTD threads, again.

We don't have as easy access, here, in Colorado, to autumn leaves as we did in Wyoming, other than the more common valley trees: cottonwoods, poplars, mountain ash, and a few others. Some folks have coaxed aspen to grow down here, but to really see their beauty, in their large clusters, one has to drive an hour or two up into the mountains. A beautiful trip, it just takes a weekend day which means chores and errands miss out. But, of course it IS worth it!

When we moved to New England, the kids and I couldn't believe how big the leaves were, esp. the maple leaves. I still have a photo album I put together for my mom which is filled with preserved, huge maple leaves in beautiful scarlets, yellows, and ambers.

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Sept 26
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 27 Sep 08 - 06:27 AM

The leaves change colour because it is Autumn, duh!

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Sept 26
From: alanabit
Date: 27 Sep 08 - 06:58 AM

I like the story, because it is a good example of what happens to you if you put an exaggerated importance on other people believing what you do.

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Sept 26
From: katlaughing
Date: 27 Sep 08 - 03:30 PM

I love autumn, but, after a session in HearMe once with other Mudcatters, when I heard THIS SONG for the first time, it's always a bit more poignant for me as it comes to mind.