Sippin’ on Cider Lookin’ at the River

After a quick visit to the coffee shop, 8:15, I head to my Prius with Spider Cider in hand to relax in my reflection spot. There are significantly fewer leaves on the trees. Brown and withered, but still gargantuan, the sycamore leaves scatter the ground and crunch beneath my cowboy boots. Mimosa trees barely have leaves left and their seed pods are hanging on by a thread. The gold and red colors starkly contrast against the blue sky and brown wood and in this moment I whip out my camera for a few snaps.

The leaves are not the only differences between late summer and late fall landscapes at my reflection spot. Because rainstorms are more infrequent, the water is much more clear. I can see maybe a foot deep, perhaps further if I came in the middle of the day rather than the evening. The water is not moving. It would most likely not even register any flow with a more precise instrument than my two eyes.

Can see the leaves under the surface of the reflective, smooth water.

The human presence is still very obvious from back here. I still hear the hum of cars on the road – this I assume is almost a constant phenomenon. Perhaps at night the sounds of fauna overpower… Trash that I think I saw in late summer is still stuck in the dirt. More trash has come to join the original assortment. Beer cans, plastic bags, and bottles make up the majority of the litter. I really wonder why the shopping center near here doesn’t go down to clean it up. In Baltimore County, this sort of things would be reported and the shop owners or managers would have to survive a stern reminder that dumpster lids must be tightly secured. It prevents trash from drifting out into the river and its banks. Maybe the blame lies with dumpster trucks who carry away a majority of the waste but leave shreds behind to get swept away in the waves. Either way, I think I will devote another few minutes to serving the James and pick this trash up this weekend. I can make my mark in my backyard. Ralph White would be proud.

Trash litters my reflection spot. Does anyone who sees this have the responsibility to clean it up?

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