In northern New England, it used to be that the brilliance of autumn leaf colors in the mountains would peak right around Columbus Day.

That might still be true, though both the climate and Columbus Day have taken a few lumps in recent years.

Anyway, the controversial holiday's approach reminds me of the time something I wrote about fall foliage caused a minor fecal storm. If you can imagine.

Back in the early 1980s, I worked for the morning newspaper in Tucson, Arizona. And right around this time of year, I wrote something about Leaf Peepers, those people who are gaga about seasonal tree colors. I suppose it could be said I poked a little fun.

Well, someone must have sent a clipping to my hometown paper back in Vermont. (This was before everything was online.) Because that newspaper, the daily to which my parents subscribed, the paper that had faithfully covered my high school hockey career, soon produced an editorial bashing me.

Ouch.

My takeaway?  Never underestimate the power of the written word to offend people. Even people who call themselves Leaf Peepers.

I'd say Happy Columbus Day, but I realize that would annoy some readers.

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