Morning Light

I suffered from a bit of insomnia this morning, so I figured that since I was wide awake at 5:30 a.m., I had better get out of bed and get an early start on the day. About an hour later, I was on my way to the office with the intent of getting some extra work done with an extra hour's time. As I stepped out of my apartment building, the smells of mud and worms hit me like a brick. Granted, there are probably not any worms writhing around on the ground during this time of year, there are rotting, wet leaves. I then took a deep breath and relished in the first few minutes of the sunrise. I forgot how much I treasure this time of day. With each step I took towards the train station, I let my senses enjoy the rising sun, the calmness, the lack of people, the lack (or definite lessening of) noise. If I had the drive and ambition to wake up an hour before sunrise every morning and be out the door just as light was beginning to spread around the world, I think that I would start my days on a much more peaceful note. There's a certain feeling in the air. It just seems so fresh and new. The temperature is usually the lowest of the day, and with a nice, brisk walk, it really gets the blood flowing.

The train was prompt. The people were still half-asleep. There was silence. I read about snow. I thought about the first snowflakes of the year and how I feel like a child again every time they start falling. We're still probably (hopefully) about a month away from any snow falling, but, when it does happen, I want it to be in the early morning. If I could have things my way, I would magically transport myself into an empty field in the middle of nowhere. There I am, standing in the openness. Looking into the sky. Feeling the snowflakes hit my face, getting stuck in my eyelashes, melting on my tongue. Perfectly white, falling onto a brown, dirty ground.

Back to reality as I made my way up to street level from the subway. The morning light was a bit older now, and I was hit with the smells of exhaust, cigarette smoke, city. There was more noise, albeit less traffic and less people. I enjoyed my ten minute walk from the train to the office. The smell of worms still lingering, but this time I attributed it to Lake Michigan instead since I was only about six blocks away from it. Mornings like this should be enjoyed for everything that they are worth. It is a brand new day, and although it probably will be one that I won't enjoy to the fullest extent, at least it started out in a beautiful way.