A Blanket of Golden Leaves on Top

Driving a long the second north ring road.  Skirting along what must have once been the north of the city, the center of the city’s northern wall.  I’m not usually here these days.  The divider between the highway and the access road is planted with gingko trees.  On the day of the big snow, the leaves had yet to fall.  But the cold and the weight of the snow must have made them all fall suddenly, shortly thereafter.   And as a result, the shrubs are covered not only in snow but with a blanket of golden leaves on top, which looks rather beautiful. 

I’ve got an aggressive cab driver, who is driving in and out of the side road, giving me a many chances to consider this visual.  I was car sick on the ride down and now I’m pretty queasy on the ride back as well.  All of this acceleration, deceleration and what do you know, I drifted off to sleep and dreamed of something stable and pleasant.  The driver wants to confirm the exit with me.  Waking, I confirm.

Checking now and it is so: Nearly all the leaves from the poplar trees on the side of the airport expressway have, finally fallen as well.  For many weeks this fall they were the final hold out.  They remained green and upheld the myth of early Autumn.  Nothing green left save the conifers now. 

We’re on the connecting road between the Yang Lin highway exit and Tianbei Road.  This road was under construction for what seemed like years.  It turns out they were building something broad.  Was an eight-lane road really necessary? Who am I to question the omniscient Beijing civic planners?  It will probably be filled before too long, clogged with rush hour traffic. Off to the left is a villa complex.  Friends live there.  On the right side is the mountain of dirt they probably dug up to build it.  A few small homes are out in front, waiting to be torn down.