Bright and early for the daily races

It’s spring now, it’s getting lighter. Skies are nearly blue in the mornings.

I don’t rush my walk from the car to work. I like taking a few moments to collect my thoughts, think about the day. It’s a pleasant amble – carpark, sometimes coffee shop, public square, street, work.

I like people watching.

Council workers, emptying bins, cleaning the square. Setting up for whatever the next show or market is.

Business people in serious suits, heels tapping and clicking on the stones, serious briefcases.

The guy who clearly wants to look retro and stylish, but unfortunately looks like he raided his dad’s wardrobe then pinched grandad’s suitcase. He’s a regular.

The group who practice tai chi. At least, I assume it’s tai chi. Sometimes there are fans, sometimes wooden swords. It’s so graceful, calm and controlled movement. The *clack* as a fan opens, the graceful sweep of an arm and leg into place. Whatever it is, I love watching them.

Lately, there are a group of about six guys. They must be training for something – they’re there stretching, doing pushups or jumping jacks, sprints over one of the grass areas. I’ll admit I like watching them too.

Students shuffling up the hill to uni, sometimes grappling multiple bags, inevitably looking exhausted. I sympathize, I don’t like 8am either.

And me, sometimes gratefully grasping a cup of caffeine, wandering up the hill to work. The lady at Starbucks has stopped asking if I want the usual – these days it’s just “morning, that’ll be $6.90 please!” “Morning, thank you…” I wander over, get my straw, hear the blender whirr. “Mahal?” “Thanks!”

I like being a regular.

Originally published at spinneretta