The here and now

Today,
as I traveled across town to an acquaintance house, I realized the futility of this plan.
Sure enough, was he there?
Nope.
Tragedy, oh horrible suffering. Such a waste...
...right?
Tonight,
as I traveled into the chilled night air. I thought on this.
as I traveled through the park, picking up a bit of trash along the way, to the garbage can.
To find the discarded sweater sitting on the ground.
Down the quiet street,
as the the news paper delivery does their nightly rounds.
Past the hospital,
as the pair of girls slowly cross the road from the nightly break and back to the bright lights.
Into the secluded shrine to meditate,
while the wind howls, and the ducks quack. Breaking my meditation, but granting me a wonderful smile.
Through the lane near the pond as I am picking up trash,
gliding across the the grass as a hidden bird flys slowly into the night air.
And finally, down the sidewalk to my destine turn, meeting the cold walker.
He says to me with a chill in his voice...
"Nice night, kinda late"
"actually," I reply, "it's kind of early."
As I continued my way home, I thought about my reply...
Thinking about my trip earlier in the day, my sweater, the news paper delivery, the girls on their break, the ducks and the wind, the hidden bird, even the "late" night wanderer...
Am I early, or late...

...I think more like I am right on time.