The Commute Part 2 (SS)

I am always fascinated at the amount of opportunity we have in our lives. We can choose to live so many different ways. "The Commute" is a short series I have written in order to provide a stark contrast in how we choose to live our lives by comparing something as simple as our commute to work; something we do not always see as being significant. If you haven’t already done so, I would therefore recommend you read “The Commute” posted earlier in conjunction with this posting (see July 2007 archive).

London, England

Tube doors open and I stumble out, clutching my purse at my side. My eyes quickly scan right, left, forward, and back, as I weave my way through the crowded platform in an attempt to find the “Way Out.” I am constantly bumped one way and then the next as I ricochet off the masses. We are like a stream of fish swirling toward the escalator with seemingly no end. I finally reach the top, pull out my Oyster card, swipe it through the turnstyles, take a quick right, down the stairs, quick left, and then step out into the cool crisp autumn evening air, sucking it in with full and welcoming breaths.

My steps fall into the rhythm of the music playing on my ipod as I begin my trek home. I pass the Tower of London, spectacularly lit, and walk onto the Tower Bridge. I had a long day and was looking forward to getting home as quickly as possible. However, halfway across the Tower Bridge, I was stopped. They were raising the draw bridge. Already, several dozen tourists were crammed up toward the middle, their cameras flashing as the draw bridge slowly raised.

I stood in awe watching as this ancient (by American standards) gorgeous Tower Bridge drew up to an almost vertical angle, the sheer impact of its undertaking, beauty, and history overwhelmed me. An old classic, wooden sailboat glided underneath the bridge. Once clear, the draw bridge slowly lowered into its original position.

Gates then opened and I resumed my earlier pace and continued my commute. Once home, I collapsed into bed, then rose the next day to do it all over.