Two children, laughing, ran past me. That was rude of them. They had no business interrupting my solemnity. I slowed down so they could hurry past. Walking on, breathing deeply the fresh, crisp air. I was halfway through the campus, then, reflecting about my life.

Soon I came to a major thoroughfare on the other side of the campus and I decided to go north on it. There was a junior high school nearby and a pedestrian overpass just ahead. I decided it would be somewhat interesting to climb that pedestrian overpass and observe the traffic. Above it all, I could watch the cars go under me, each one a shell, holding a driver and maybe passengers, all living their separate lives, all going to their separate places, all doing their separate things. I could get even more contemplative and withdrawn, which was attractive to me at that moment.

I climbed the walkway, circling around, higher and higher, then walked out over the street. Traffic roared under me and I was sure that people in those cars and trucks were completely unconcerned with my observation of them. So what if some clown was up on the pedestrian overpass watching them? What difference would it make to them? What interest could they possibly have in me?

As I watched the traffic flow under me, I began to stare indifferently into the private worlds of the people's vehicles. But then completely unexpectedly, one person waved to me. It caught me off guard. It made me take a quick breath. What was happening? Then, in another car, two more people waved at me. Suddenly most of the people in the cars into which I was staring, began waving and smiling.

I was shocked at first. This wasn't supposed to happen! This wasn't part of my plan. I had determined that I was going to have a solemn, isolated moment on this cold afternoon, on the pedestrian overpass. But--as if by magic--I was catapulted into a different state of mind. It was a conspiracy, I'm positive. My sense of solemnity flew away. Any sense of separation I was feeling, dropped from the overpass and dissipated onto the street below. I could sense a meltdown. Something welled up within me that was making me feel, well, joyous.

I waved at those who waved at me and other people in cars and trucks going under the overpass, responded. I had been singled out and zapped by a wave of love from random drivers and passengers, on the street below this pedestrian overpass. There was nothing I could do to stop their assault. I was defeated in my attempt to remain introspective. My battle was lost. I smiled and laughed and waved at the parade of humanity, who may not have even known the depth in which they had touched me, in their travels that day.

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