I hate the phrase leaf peeping

What used to be a late September early October tradition - driving around looking at the fall colors, now seems to be a later October, beginning of November thing. So warm slowly fades into cooler, the colors are changing and the phrase leaf peeping is rearing it's ugly head again.

What I thought was the invention of the TV show The West Wing as a fun way to make fun of language, as the show often did brilliantly, aparently was, indeed, a term used in areas like New Hampshire referring to tourists flocking to look at nature's colorful display. 

Recently I saw this phrase begin popping up again on social media, and though I love any chance to talk about The West Wing, this phrase isn't one I particularly want to hear, though writing this now I become aware of my snoot and remind myself - so what if people call it that. Should the phrase leaf peeping be a pet peeve and  something to really concern me in this day and age with so many more things to worry about? 

Nope

So call it what you wish, but if you want to go look or peep at the colors they are  kinda pretty right now in places, even in the rain.

As an artist who loves to draw, I am often fascinated by how leaves draw self portraits and print them on sidewalks. I become mesmerized at how much more beautiful nature renders itself better than I ever could. And then just washes it away as if it were nothing. No ego, just sharing and moving on.

Today I looked this juxtaposition of decay and renewal as a tree seed lay next to the remnant stains of two leaves.