journey

i've taken to walking to work of late. it is just over a mile from my front door and it doesn't take long. and as i leave around nine-thirty at night and come home around eight in the morning, there are some wonderful changes i see in each trip.
last night it had rained a little. as i stepped out there was a great haze in the air. the streets were still wet and everything had a surreal glow like it was lit for a movie. things were quieting down. few cars passed me. as a pedestrian i move slower and i can really take in all that is around me. the Christmas lights, the sounds from the wetlands. the smell of wood burning in a fireplace. the cold. sometimes i sing or try and write a little verse in my head. it's a great transition from home to work, and i am enjoying these little journeys. when the engine is warm, it only takes about five minutes to cover this distance. but on foot this stretches out to twenty or twenty-five. i can also stop along the way sometimes and try to capture a little of what i see.
i used to regularly drive over an hour to get to work and wondered how i could shorten the time. now it seems i need to stretch it out a little.