How you gather leaves...

So I don't know what to think about this.

Mr. Man and I are riding the bus today to the martial arts place for Spring Break Camp. As usual, we are looking out the window, taking in the morning in the city sites as we pass through neighborhoods we usually don't see this time of day. There is a workman with a leaf blower, blowing dried patches of leaves up the sidewalk and away from the parking lot of his employer. Mr. Man begins his commentary.

"I don't think that is very effective. They will just blow back in."

I agree, I do not understand leaf blowing without bagging and hauling away. Mr. Man offers a solution.

"They should put them in a pile and compost them. Then they would be gone. And - they would have something good for the plants."

Again, I agree. A far better solution on many levels.

"And, that thing takes gas. If we are having a war in Iraq for gas, it seems dumb to do that with it."

Yup. Also true. And I lack the ability to describe the cynical, bitter tone in his voice when he said it. Love and I are pretty careful not to use that tone when explaining or answering questions about the war and the many reasons for it and why we are still in it. Yet, we have been at war his whole life. And that costs, even in these small ways.

I hug him close in our bus seat and tell him I love him and think he is right. I am glad he is thinking about options and how to harm the world less. He says he knows.