And I quote

Today, in the bright, white-light morning sun, I was opening the door to the big warehouse building, and watched as I swung my bike's front wheel to the left, knocking over my ceramic mug full of de-lish coffee I'd yet to drink, slicing it in two, and splattering the coffee down the steps.

"Oh shoot," I yelped, looking behind me, to the young man leaning up against the hood of a car on the street, just to acknowledge that I saw him there, watching me.

"That's alright," he said with an emotionless, clear-eyed face. "I just got fired."

"Oh no!" I cried, with sympathy. "I'm sorry!" But that was all I could think to say. (Should I offer my condolences? Say it's going to be alright?) How likely is it that he'd be interested in my talking about the big picture? Or about appreciating the small one, and this incredible morning?

I said nothing, just swung the door open again to enter, and left the bright light and the boy behind, trudging up the steps with my bike over my shoulder for another day in the photo studio, another day of stress, another day where I don't belong. I thought of my countdown til I quit this job (121 more work days to go), before I leave this city, head for Missouri for a little while, then explore south-east asia for 4 to 5 months. I've got the itch, and it's time to go.