I stepped out into the cold of an early January morning in Maine, dragging my feet and feeling a bit grumpy about heading to work. The eastern sky greeted me with banded hues and the car was bedecked with frosty flowers. I turned the key in the ignition, making sure to click on the seat warmer, then stepped back, shutting the door. The squeal of some loose belt or other briefly filled the chilly air then subsided. I took a deep breath and stood still, admiring the sunrise and feeling the cold air rush through my nose and into my lungs. After a few moments I crunched across stiffened grass to fill the chicken’s dish with warm water. They cooed and rustled sleepily in the coop. Apparently they were not quite ready to face the day either.

Almost 12 hours later I headed home, stepping back out into the dark. The roads were coated with snow and my headlights highlighted a meteor storm of snow bombarding my car. I drove slowly, appreciating the show, pulling over twice to allow other more intrepid (or impatient or foolhardy) drivers to pass me.  A smudge,not quite a shadow, in the road ahead of me transformed into a deer as I neared. And then another and another, their hooves slipping beneath them as they scurried across the slippery road. At my slow pace, I merely lifted my foot off the gas and watched them cross the road before me, thankful that I was driving slowly, enjoying the moment. After they passed, I pressed my foot lightly on the accelerator and continued the slow drive home.

My day began with beauty and ended thus as well.