My One-Street Adventure
Can we move from stress to a sense of peace without traveling far away?
My close-in suburb has become more crowded with cars since more and more people began moving to the region. On my most-mornings bike ride, despite new bike lanes I now mostly avoid the major(ish) street that leads from my street to several other close-in towns and the city, and to bike paths off the street. Lately I choose instead to ride the relatively bumpy but quieter streets on the other side of the big street. It’s not that it’s like a highway, but it is busy, and at rush hour no fun to ride on due to more cars than ever crowding into it, many of them speeding.
But sometimes I miss the little cafe at an intersection at one end of the big street. Sometimes I want an espresso and to sit in the window for a few minutes (although it’s so small there rarely is a seat). But the ride to the cafe, even with bike lanes, can be scary. Except early on Sunday mornings.
It’s so popular that often you can’t even move inside so though I love it I dread going there lately. But last Sunday after the first part of my ride, though my spirits were rather low, I pushed myself to ride to the cafe. It didn’t seem too crowded but as I was locking my bike a group of five people suddenly appeared and lined up at the register. I thought, oh why did I bother, but a second person came to the counter and motioned me over. She took my order and gave me a number, and I searched for somewhere to light. Suddenly a very sunny window seat was empty! I happen to know there’s a shade you can pull down, though most people don’t notice it so they sometimes avoid that seat. I was given my coffee with a smile by a nice employee I recognized. So I got my few minutes with a coffee and even a little shade. Despite it being crowded I mostly like to be around other people, so all this helped to lift my mood. Even a little lift sometimes is a great gift.
I’d brought a container to take the rest of my coffee with me on the ride home, and it was such a beautiful day, I didn’t want to get home too quickly. So I put the coffee in my basket to sip on the way as I walked my bike for a few blocks. Then I planned to ride the rest of the way.
I’d somehow remained in an uncharacteristically peaceful state of mind as I began to walk, and since the road traffic was light and I didn’t really need to get home yet, soon realized that I could take my time to calmly look at every storefront and house on this wonderfully mixed street, as well as the tiny gardens in some of the tiny front yards that bump up against small shops. These include one that serves old-fashioned English tea and scones, another that’s an art gallery and frame shop, a piano-teaching studio, a barber, and later, a very tiny French bakery that makes only a few things, and specializes in macarons of every flavor.
There were two empty storefronts. Victor and I once got close to renting one to open a little coffee shop/bookstore. But the rent was quite high, and someone who knew about coffee shops advised us not to try in that space since there were very few parking spaces, and only on the street. But this day I thought, what if…? The second storefront surprised me and I began to wonder if our coffee shop would be any better off there. After a few seconds it seemed a crazy idea, so I put it towards the back of my mind. But I did enjoy just imagining how the shop might look in those spaces. Then I walked on.
I noticed all during my walk that there were many big, beautiful trees I’d never seen before, because I usually have to ride or drive fast on this street. Some of the trees were far behind the houses, and I could hardly believe I’d missed them, having traveled this street so very often. Some of the houses’ residents had planted flowering shrubs and smaller plants all over their balconies, and one had a complete garden of plants in large pots that filled up her very small garden space on a busy corner. She was out there watering a plant as I walked by, and I told her how lovely I thought all the flowers looked.
Soon my plan to ride the rest of the way dissolved, and I decided to walk the entire way home. A calm had settled over me, one I rarely feel, and I knew it was partly because there had been so few cars roaring by for much of the walk—something I hardly ever experience. There happened also, luckily, to be no planes flying overhead (miraculous) and no people in any of the yards with leaf-blowers or mowers, so I could hear the leaves rustling on this fairly windy sunny day. That sound is one of my favorite in all the world.
How very odd it seemed, that a street that often drives me nuts when I’m within 30 yards of it, could be so peaceful. I felt a renewed hope that someday our cities would learn how wonderful it is for people to see and hear gardens and trees and leaves in the wind, and all it takes is slowing the traffic, banning gas—powered lawn equipment, artificially loud car and motorcycle engines, and, while they’re not silent, encouraging electric vehicles because at least they’re somewhat quieter and the air after they go by remains something you want to breathe.
So, to answer my question, while the opportunities seem quite rare, sometimes, if you’re lucky, you can find some peace and joy just walking down a street on Sunday. I wish we all could find such streets, or better yet, actually live on quieter streets, and feel that way whenever we walk outside our homes, or open our windows. Imagine being able to hear leaves rustling on any day there’s a breeze.
I have to stop writing now because a neighbor has just fired up his leaf-blower and I need to close all the windows.
Thanks so much Mary!
" Lately I choose instead to ride the relatively bumpy but quieter streets on the other side of the big street". Bumpy and quieter can be a big win and so much more relaxing. Great post, btw.