It’s just after 7am on a cold October morning, and I’m meandering on my bike up Silver Ave, a street that runs parallel to 280 and cuts across the northern part of the Excelsior through to Portola and up to Silver Terrace. It’s far enough on the outskirts of the city that, unless you live there or are taking the bus through, I’m not sure why anyone would find themselves there.
It’s not the most scenic neighborhood; it’s surrounded by 280 on one side and 101 on the other. Power lines are more prevalent than trees, and aside from McLaren Park there aren’t any attractions.
Unless you are me, that is, who gets bored riding the same routes over and over and enjoys following the “bike route” signs and seeing where they lead.
It’s a cold October morning – 7:16am to be exact – the time of year where the temperature fluctuates 30 degrees between sunrise and midday. I’m bundled up in a puffy jacket, wool gloves, and ski socks. As I bike northeast up Silver Ave the sun is rising behind me, casting a gorgeous pink glow across the houses.
the smell of the cold air, the sound of sparse traffic, the feeling of the bike wheels on the pavement
I have to pull over to the side of the street to take a picture.
One of my favorite songs is “Pink Light” by MUNA,
There have been so many sunrises the past few weeks and every time I try to find the “ugly” things that the pink light makes beautiful. It’s a habit now.
It’s easy to take a picture at Yosemite or notice the beauty of something … objectively beautiful.
Seen in the right light, anything can be beautiful.
More and more, he comes to realize that people fall into three camps: those who hardly, if ever, see beauty, even when it strikes them between the eyes; those who recognize it only when it is made apparent to them; and those rare souls who find beauty everywhere they turn, even in the most unexpected places.
I wonder if this applies to myself. There’s always that wisdom about finding the people who appreciate you for who you are, that make you feel most like yourself.
Could delve into what it means to feel “seen” in the same way you’re seeing beauty in these overlooked places.
In the right time and the right surroundings, I will be lovely.
Pink Light, MUNA
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