seizing the sunny day

Today as I flew into the building for my 8:40 A.M. class, slightly late as usual, I noticed that Community Property was canceled. My afternoon class had been pushed back an hour, leaving me nearly three hours free in the middle of the day. A gorgeous, warm, stunningly clear day, I should add.

Freedom.

After Wills & Trusts ended, I quickly slipped up to the law review office and dropped off my wheelie bag in the editor's office. I tucked a little cash and my cell phone into the pocket of my lightweight fleece, walked to the subway station and caught a train down to the waterfront.

A few minutes later I emerged, blinking at the bright sun as it reflected off of the deep blue water of the still bay. I didn't stay in the sun long, though, instead starting my wander by meandering through the food markets in the Ferry Building. I admired the fragrant organic produce and crusty artisanal breads, but I didn't stop and eat; my goal was not a good lunch.

I walked down the Embarcadero, dodging the tourists and the bicycle rickshaws, until on a whim I reached Vallejo Street and turned inwards. I began climbing up, up through the stair gardens, stopping only to give a German tourist directions to Coit Tower. Finally, winded, I reached the top and turned around to catch my breath: the view was resplendent.

Then it was back down into North Beach, across Columbus Street and then through Chinatown. Still on Vallejo Street, I began climbing again towards Russian Hill, this time through the Upper Vallejo stair gardens. This is a longer series of steps and I climbed more slowly, giving myself time to turn around and absorb the view. I passed a woman doing tai chi in a corner of the path as she faced Alcatraz and a cheery dogwalker with three well-groomed border collies hurrying her along.  At Taylor Street I stopped for a moment to admire the 1001 Vallejo Street mansion with its old-fashioned crystalline windows sparkling in the sunlight and then slipped past its intricate iron gates. Up again, but this time just a short jaunt to the park at the top of Russian Hill.

In the park, a little green patch nestled between the elegant old mansions at the top of the hill, I finally stopped, deliberately slowing my breathing down. I stood still, watching the tiny boats down on the bay beneath me, letting the gentle breeze cool my warm face. I absorbed the moment, happy and deeply content to be at that spot at that moment.

I nearly skipped down Vallejo Street, my hill-climbing done for the day. When I reached Polk Street, I turned left and headed up the street. At Broadway and Polk, I caught the bus back to school.

On the bus, I realized that I had dropped the $10 bill I'd tucked into my fleece. At first I was annoyed, but then I thought, "I'd pay $10 for today's walk. I'd pay more than $10." It was a rationalization, but I didn't want to lose my good mood to something as petty as dropped cash. A few seconds later, it occurred to me to look under my seat on the bus, and there it was. No need to rationalize after all.

The bus dropped me off twenty minutes before my afternoon class. I retrieved my bag from the law review office and, suddenly famished, polished off the turkey sandwich and apple I'd brought with me for lunch. After washing my face in the bathroom, I sat down for my afternoon class meeting, early by five minutes, with delightfully tired legs from the hill climbing.

I am really going to miss law school next year.

Comments

[Cathy]

The Bay is just the best mood-enhancer, isn't it?

(Now I'm all inspired to go kayaking with the sea lions again...)

[Cathy]

Also

> crusty artisinal breads

I just tried them out yesterday for the first time (50 cents for a roll), and they were quite good. (I had the "rustic" roll.)

[CM]

I love that your first thought on a beautiful day with unexpected free time was to go enjoy the city.

And I feel the same way about law school -- even in my summer job, which I knew would only last a few months, I missed that freedom.

[fran]

What a fabulous way to spend unexpected free time! Thanks for the inspiration.

[teahouseblossom]

What a great little break you had!

It's moments like these that make life (and law school) worth living.