Diamonds in the Sky

Today I woke up to a rainy 40 degree morning. Yesterday I commuted by bus because I had been out late and was tired. So I told myself , "you are riding today". I gathered my things, did the needful, and retrieved my bike from the basement. I was wearing a long-sleeve technical shirt, track pants, running shoes, hat, helmet, gloves and a wonderful windbreaker with vents under the arms. I attached my grocery pannier (doubles as a gym bag) to my rack, and threw my huge gym bag sized messenger bag over my shoulder. Turned on my blinkies, put some trip-hop in my ears, and and set out for my short ten-minute ride to the YMCA. I am aware that riding with headphones is probably not the wisest choice, but I try to make up for it by being extra alert visually and I keep them at a moderate volume.

Anyway, as I was crossing the Roberto Clemente Bridge at 5:00 am in the rain and chill, I looked up at the steel girders of the bridge and noticed how amazing was the sight of the rain drops as they sailed past the yellow steel, silhouetted by the street lights; like little diamonds falling from the sky. I've traveled over a bridge on a rainy day thousands of times, but there is just something ethereal at this early hour when scarcely anyone is around and it almost feels like it is just you and the city and the street. And there is no good way to describe   the perspective from a bike. Just makes you feel alive. Moments like this make me relish my new, more active life.