This heart-shaped leaf made me stop walking. The rest was up to my thoughts about how this chance encounter had meaning beyond the beauty of nature. I recalled recent hikes where I thought I saw things that turned not to be what I “hoped” they would be. A few weeks ago In San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, I was convinced that there was a turtle in the marsh, after all, that’s where turtles hang out. But it was only a tree stump glistening in the sun.

And I haven’t captured a single monarch butterfly despite numerous glimpses of one in the distance. But was it really a monarch? Imagine, all these thoughts triggered by a fallen leaf?
I am a positive person worn down by bad news that confronts me every morning. Mass shootings, Trumpisms, and out of control forest fires. So, today, this leaf is hope for better days ahead.
Yes, a lot of unearthfriendly things happening to our poor planet lately. I’m glad that i don’t drink!
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