Back home in Alaska, rain is glistening the remaining leaves. Most are dull and will soon be roting on the ground. There will be maple leaves yellowing in the rain. A few surviving ash tree leaves will provide islands of red in the dark air.

            Here, on the Southern Puget Sound, early sunshine brings out bright colors in the surviving flowers. I want to concentrate on a companion’s story while we walk through a suburban neighborhood. But time and again, I’ve drawn to flowers or fall-colored leaves almost overwhelmed by intense morning light. My camera can barely capture all this beauty.