Friday, March 30, 2012

Mountains

As I drove down the highway this morning, I was treated to a stunningly clear view of the mountains.

Although they are only a few miles away, they are often invisible, cloaked in cloud or haze. Sometimes, on a clear day, the snowy peaks shine in the distance, but on those days they are often almost lost against the dazzling sky.

Today, they hulked above a bed of cloud, side-lit by the morning sun, and framed by more tumbling masses of cloud. They looked almost close enough to touch, with details of their lower slopes picked out with rare clarity.

Sights like that lift my spirit, and more than make up for the grey damp of the past week.

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Small courtesies

Something happened as I cycled home from work on Friday that reminded me how it is the little things in life that often make the difference.

I was slogging up a long hill near to home, when a transit bus pulled past me and stopped at a bus stop just ahead, half-straddling the cycle lane. I slowed, expecting to have to stop while passengers disembarked, then I realized that nothing was happening and the driver was watching me in his side mirror waiting for me to pass before he opened the door.

He didn't have to do that, and it was quite unexpected. I salute that anonymous transit driver for reminding me that some people can still find the time in their lives to be considerate to others.