On an average Wednesday

I find myself wondering about how lucky I am to have the life I find myself leading.

Probably every day something happens to me that makes me stop and thank God for creating me as me, and making my life the way it is, with every minute detail and intricate, perfect timing, but especially today, I found myself at least 3 different times sitting on the street car going in different directions thinking, damn, life is. so. good.

I was riding around the ringstraße to the university to meet up with my friend Sebastien this evening to rehearse for the musicology department's opening concert next week. We're performing songs from Schumann's "Frauenliebe und Leben" and I was listening to the songs on my ipod to practice diction/memorization. Suddenly my heart lurched and I realized that I was not only practicing music that makes my heart go crazy and soar, but practicing it on public transportation on a beautiful sunny day in a city where the composer and subject of his composition walked, breathed, and performed.
and loved.

the city whose collection of ancient musical instruments has the piano that was their wedding present.
the city whose architecture is older than the entire history of my nation.

and as I noted to myself to roll my r's a bit more and hit an "f" a bit harder in order to start the high phrase in a better place, I felt overwhelmingly full. Not just of good emotions, but of crap and wonderful both mixed together in a swirling tunnel (like pre-mixed peanut butter and jelly) that is real, marrow-sucking, dripping life.

A few hours later I got off the streetcar at my stop, and I realized what it is.

It's as if light, tiny flecks of golden glitter have flickered onto every aspect of my life. Even the ugly parts I try to ignore have their fair share. Every now and then, light hits the glitter at just the right angle so that I notice it, and the beauty overwhelms me.  And then it's gone and I forget that it was even there.

I don't know who or what put this glitter into my life. Could be music, love, or the hand of God Himself. Or I'm just drinking too much coffee.