The early morning

Perhaps due to decades as a Marine on active duty or to personal proclivity, I routinely arise early and head out for a morning run.  This part of my fitness regime averages an hour of pounding the payment, as some call it.  These early morning runs have begun as early as 0400 (4 AM in civilian time), though usually I am out the door between 0500-0530 daily.  There is something special about the early morning, whether it is here in the town in which I live or somewhere when we are on the road for vacations.  Getting up and out at what my motorcycling buddy and lifelong friend calls the butt-crack of dawn is invigorating.  The invigoration comes from more than the physical exercise, which grows in importance as we age.  The invigoration comes from experiencing the beginning of a new day.  Thus, the early morning is very special.

Whether it is a brisk morning worthy of a watch cap and gloves or simply a cool morning in which a long sleeve t-shirt is adequate, there is something so very special about starting the day just before the sun comes up.  As I continue along the regular route, there are familiar aspects.  The one area where sprinklers are soaking the area, so I shift from the sidewalk to the street.  The homeless gent, who takes refuge in the bus stop each night.  The same cars going down the street heading to work.  The occasional wave from a neighbor as he heads out to work.  The one hard hill I have to run, getting the heart rate up.  The greenery of the gardens.  Being outside, pounding the pavement as it were, as the first rays of sun light pop up in the east, listening the birds beginning to call, hearing the occasional lawn sprinkler in the distance, watching my neighborhood come to life, and the smell of cooking bacon, all of these combine to provide an offer and expectation of good things to come.

With expectation hanging in the air, there seems to be an anticipatory silence.  The noise hasn't risen to the mid-day level.  It is as if the world is waiting to begin.  We are in the starting blocks for today's race of the day.  Just prior to the starter's gun going off to start the race, there is that moment of peaceful silence, all all await the beginning.  And from these beginnings, great endings occur.  The promise held by the day, even when most days are simply repeats of previous days.  Whether employed, retired, unemployed, on vacation, in school, on a day off, or another status, each day holds forth opportunities.  Some new, some residual. 

It is the anticipation of these opportunities that make the early morning special.  Who knows what may come our way?  I eagerly look forward to the dawn of the new day, as it brings forth the possibility of new opportunities.  Being out there on a early morning run enables me to physically partake of the dawn.  By the time I have run the last hill, I'm ready for the day and whatever it may throw my way.

Dang, the early mornings are so very special.