As I was watching the children jumping on top of the piles of leaves and felt the chill in the air, I realized that it is finally autumn. It is rather unusual to still see the beautiful colors on the trees in November. I enjoy collecting the pretty leaves for decorative purposes. While I was doing this, I started to hum a childhood favorite "Autumn Leaves".
The Westport Library has many different versions of this song by Johnny Mercer and Joseph Kosma. If you are in the mood for a light, popular rendition, please try the Mills Brothers or the Streets of Paris Orchestra. If you prefer a jazzy vein, feel free to check out Patricia Barber, Stan Getz or Wynton Marsalis. While you are listening and raking up the leaves, you may want to sing along:
"The falling leaves drift by my window
The falling leaves of red and gold
I see your lips, the summer kisses
The sunburned hands I used to hold..."