lonely...obstinate...or tenacious?

I was out in Concord today doing a little work at my kids house, when I noticed how sunny the day was turning out. I needed a break and a smoke, so I thought I would go out to the garage and admire the view.

The sky was clear blue, clearer than I normally see in the city, and great big puffy clouds moved through here and there...the sun making them look perfectly white as they rolled by.

Standing in the garage doorway, I started to take in that once familiar landscape and I began to look for the changes in it since moving out five years ago. A grown shrub here, a taller tree there...when I started to examine the tree to my right to see how it had changed.

It's a Japanese Maple, I believe, but I can't say for sure...the names of trees and flowers don't register in my brain in any sort of way...perhaps because of my city upbringing. But I had always enjoyed how leafy that tree was in full bloom and how it kept the family room in nice cool shade during the summer months.

It was while I was gauging its height that I noticed the leaf.

One single leaf left...still holding on. January 9th, six inches of snow, ten degrees below freezing... but this leaf still held on. I thought about how the wind and rains batter the front of the house...but this leaf still held on. I thought about how the snow whips around that corner of the house...but this leaf still held on.

I wondered if the leaf was lonely, kind of feeling sorry for it...all alone up there, facing the harsh elements on its own, no shelter from the storm, nothing but barren branches for company and sustenance. But I held that thought for mere moments.

I soon started to admire that leaf...all alone up there. It was holding on...through the wind, rain, sun, cold and snow...it still held on. Whatever was thrown at it that chased off all the other leaves...it still held on. Mother nature beat at it mercilessly, mankind threw copious amounts of toxic fumes at it from the busy roadway...it still held on.

It was time for me to get back inside, to finish up for the day...but I took a last look at the leaf and decided to take its picture. I wished I could take a picture that could do that leaf justice...and justice to the surprising inspiration I discovered on this pretty winters day. Hang in there buddy!