One of the joys of shifting to an earlier sleep-wake schedule is the ability to take the GT3 out for a drive before most other people have even gone out of bed. Such was an occasion this past Sunday, the first time I’ve taken the 911 out for a spin since I’ve shifted my sleep schedule ahead by two hours. I’d forgotten how serene it was to be amongst the few on the road during those ungodly hours; the gas station I filled up the car in was almost deserted, and en route to the mountains the freeway was nearly empty.
This is my kind of meditation.
To have done almost two hours’ worth of driving before the clock strikes 9 AM is something to relish: most of the time it was just me on that piece of mountain road, no slow cars to block my advance. In the background is the gradual transition of the rising sun, from a grey morning dawn to an intensely realized daytime. The interesting colors bouncing off the foliage is unique to these hours, and I find myself actually slowing down the pace to enjoy the beautiful sights. Once I’ve stopped at a turnout for a brief break, the morning air greets with a freshness like no other.
The cooler air in the morning is savored by the car as well: the GT3’s atmospheric engine sings a sweeter tune during those hours of the day.
9 AM signals the time to return home for breakfast, and as I am driving to leave the mountains, on the opposite direction were many cars heading towards where I’ve just been, folks starting their Sunday of recreation in nature. I smile slyly at the fact I’ve beaten these people to it, that I’ve already had my fun, without needing to contend with other patrons of the mountains for a mere parking spot. In fact, I had the entire lot to myself, a thing that’s well worth waking up early for.
I can say that shifting my sleep schedule is one of the best thing I’ve done in this super weird year of 2020; silver linings and whatnot.
Tuesdays workplace.