Walking

A few hours ago I walked near the Embarcadero and the Bay Bridge. I was going home after a meeting. I found myself noticing a part of the city I hadn't really walked before. The best way to discover a place is to walk it. You get to see things in a different light. Most of the time I'm in this area it's to get to another area: the ball park to the south or China Town to the north.

I enjoy looking at tall buildings -they're amazing feats of creativity... elevators, steel structures, glass, design. Can you imagine that prior to the industrial revolution there was no such thing as a steel frame? Therefore no buildings taller than wood could support... No elevators... Now cities can grow as vertically as we can imagine.

That old saying about smelling the roses - the streets, people, and buildings became the roses of the moment. Even the BART ride finds a whole slew of diverse people to watch and interact among. The thirty-something anglo guy who moved over for me... The tiny middle-aged Chinese lady I gave my seat over to... The football player sized youth who stood six inches from the subway listening to his IPod as the train raced by...

I need to make sure and talk a good walk every now and again. And the best part of it was winding up at home with Jillian and Conor giving me a huge hug. :-)