blue skies

This morning I decided to do one of my favourite morning activities just because the sky is blue and the weather fine. I took the #3 into Chinatown, got off at Pender and got some breakfast from New Town. There were a few men in the restaurant having an indecipherable conversation, of which I like to assume they were discussing how smart their grandkids were or the state of the alleyways of Chinatown.

With steamed bun in hand, I set off on my walk to work. The sounds of morning Chinatown are what I love most. This morning there was a squeaking, squealing storefront gate opened ever so slightly and closed just the same at Ming Wo. An ancient woman swept (in vain) to remove sopping wet leaves from the sidewalk in front of her variety store. Downtown Eastside residents were yelling loudly down one of the alleys. Buses whizzed by, the motors reverberating against the buildings lining Pender.

Since the light was so lovely and crisp, the colours were extra vibrant. The green and red building down from the Dr. Sun Yat Sen garden is generally best, but a few of the association buildings were looking quite fine as well. There are just a few trees with leaves left, the few stragglers too stubborn to fall and join their mates in the mushy brown mulch that collects around the tree base and along the street. The sun reflected into my eyes from the windows on the north side of the street, forcing me to close them and take in the brightness through my eyelids, a wash of orange.

Even if the rest of the day doesn't go so well, at least I have the morning.