A Grand Old Tree

I was driving into the city last week to meet up with a group of writer friends for dinner. For most of the drive it was raining hard, and the traffic was slow and snarly. Then at the very edge of the CBD I was stuck for a few minutes beside one of the city parks  — Flagstaff Gardens for those who know Melbourne.

The rain stopped, the sky partially cleared of clouds and the last of the sunset gleamed through, reflected on the wet ground and the windows of some of the tall buildings, silhouetting this grand old tree that was just beginning to bud with spring growth. I snapped a few photos, and the traffic crawled on. It was a lovely moment.

It’s so easy to get caught up in a negative mood, especially in slow, snarly traffic with everyone impatient. I drove on, grateful for the silent peace of this old tree and the brief few minutes of beauty. And I had a lovely night out with my friends.