A Fortunate Misfortune

I don’t have a car for three days.  It is kind of a nuisance… but really, REALLY, it is not that big a deal.

I have had periods of my life when I didn’t have a car.  Or, I should say, I had a car.  But it was not within my immediate ability to use it.  When I went back to school and lived in Cambridge, parking was such a chore I decided to leave the car in Oakham.  Then, obviously, I didn’t bring the car with me to London.  In both instances, I made use of public transportation.  But even that… well I got over that habit pretty quickly and decided to walk when I could.

When I got my current job, I thought briefly about undertaking that challenge to minimize my carbon footprint.  But, the efficiency of trying to take the commuter rail into the city, only to take the train to the outskirts of JP seemed to be wasteful of time and really didn’t further my cause all that much.  Now I live in a different location, but the closest train station is a mile walk.  It’s the green line.  UGH.  And again, I would have to go into the city to switch lines to leave it.  Unless I walk some more.

Which is what I did today.  I got off the green line before it left Brookline.  I crossed Rte. 9 and made my way to work by foot.  I figured I’d trace the path of the Jamaica Way that I take on occasional outings to the NE Soup Factory.  A couple miles… but then I stumbled upon the footpath through Olmstead Park.  Something I knew was there… kinda… but never really paid much attention to whilst speeding by in my vehicle. 

It was the perfect autumn morning.  The rising sun was burning off the condensation and remnants of last night’s rain.  In spite of the weather prediction, there was blue sky.  The Muddy River babbled with its recent overflow.  And every once in a while, the emerald necklace started to burn into yellow and orange.   It was a lovely walk.  And quick.  I was surprised when I reached the pond and knew I was much closer to my destination than I thought.  There was a perfect cool breeze blowing across the water, but not enough to make me regret leaving behind my sweater this morning. 

It was a perfect serendipity.  A very clear lesson that sometimes life breaks down so that I stop racing ahead and am forced to take a look at what is under my very nose.

So, yes, I will be glad to have Kermit back tomorrow night.  He is a required element for my weekend destinations.  But, maybe, henceforth he shall have a day’s rest at home so I can chase the Muddy River and watch the colors change in Olmstead Park.