The Unexpected Owl

My morning workday routine had just been capsized: My car had to go into the shop and I had to go with it.

I got there before they opened. I told myself it was better this way; first in means getting out that much sooner (theoretically).

While I waited, I was busy logging into work, answering emails, digging through all the supplies I’d brought in my bag, and basically doing everything that was the opposite of the mindfulness we hear so much about these days.

And that’s when I saw the owl.

The unexpected owl.

I don’t know how long he’d been sitting there. I certainly hadn’t been thinking I’d see an owl today. The area I was in wasn’t accustomed to owls at all.

Yet he, primed to be aware of everything around him, probably saw me drive up from quite a distance away. And just to anthropomorphize for a bit, he could well have wondered what fools these human mortals be, because…

Here was an opportunity to fully experience a moment and I was missing it.

I got out of the car. The owner and one of the mechanics drove up and also got out of their cars. And from a respectful distance, we all fawned over this owl, who just sat there being an owl the whole time.

It made an otherwise ordinary morning a magical morning. And I wonder: How many things have I missed because I’m plugged into my routine?