I Have Won the Leaf Lottery

I picked January 10, and Leaf Commissioner Richard Anderson announced yesterday that the last leaf had fallen. Here are the names of the other contestants and their misbegotten picks:

That last leaf has fallen and Michael is this season's champion.

> Total jackpot -- $13.
>
> Leaf Person Last Leaf Date
> Richard Anderson 12/19/2009
> Paula Lawrence 12/29/2009
> Gayle Feyrer 1/1/2010
> Tashery Shannon 1/2/2010
> Michael Robertson 1/10/2010
> Kay Anderson 1/14/2010
> Doris Anderson 1/15/2010
> Linwood Johnson 1/23/2010
> Jennifer Brown 1/28/2010
> Patrick Daugherty 1/29/2010
> Anna Damski 2/4/2010
> Reah Carrick 2/10/2010
> Kim Beeman 2/14/2010

As you can see, it was a close thing. I credit my victory to the ten-base system -- the final two digits of the year drove the selection of the specific date. This, you might conclude, is something less than an exercise in ratiocination, perhaps falling somewhat short of Holmesian deduction, even the Robert Downey Jr. version. But if the goddess chooses to bless me, I will let her open the door and walk through, for once the coquette rather than the cavalier.

I will plow this year's pot of $13 back into the pot for next year. If The Leaf Lottery is going to continue to expand -- already it has contestants in London and Dubai -- there must be a financial incentive. It's just my giving back to the sport.

Here's a video that gives some sense of the greatness that is the leaf lottery.

Richard Has Started Up the Leaf Lottery for This Year

The Commissioner's Letter

The Leaf Lottery is back. A review of the rules

* Email back the date you think the last leaf will fall from the crab apple tree in our front yard

* Costs US$1 to enter. Winner takes all.

* Must send your date by 11-16-2009

* Last possible date is Valentine's Day, 2/14/2010

* If someone else has your date already, you can pick another Commissioner Impressions Many leaves have fallen and lots are yellow, but the green ones look strong.

Leaf History


2003 first blossom not recorded last leaf fell on 11/16/2003 no lottery

2004 first blossom not recorded last leaf fell on 11/19/2004 no lottery

2005 first blossom not recorded last leaf fell 2/13/2006
lottery winner Reah jackpot $8 Reah had last date allowed some leaves still on tree on Valentine's Day

2006 first blossom 4/1/2006 last leaf fell 12/26/2006 lottery winner Reah jackpot $9 Leaf Dominatrix wins second in a row winning pick made from Malawi donates 2 years winnings to 2007 pot

2007 first blossom 3/16/2007 last leaf fell 2/7/2008 lottery winner Jennifer winning pick made from Dubai jackpot $13 Dubai champ donates winnings (including prior years) to Oakland Children's Hospital

2008 first blossom 3/11/2008 last leaf fell 12/25/2008 no lottery

2009 first blossom 3/7/2009

The Last Leaf is Tenacious

You may recall the Happy Anderson Family Leaf Lottery in which I participate. The count dropped quickly to two leaves and then to one, but that last leaf -- tiny, almost vestigial -- has hung on for several weeks and through several winter storms. A line from an old song kept running through my head and I couldn't shed it.

Thus: