Today, for the first time ever, I have left my home during the 1st of January during daylight hours…What a delightful thing.

I say I have witnessed a miracle for it is a Monday and as I was driving AT NOON…there was almost no traffic on the road! Literally! If there were thirteen cars I could sight, then I’m being generous with my estimation.

This is something unprecedented for me and, oh, so welcome. I love new experiences such as this.

Today, little after the clock struck twelve in the morning, rain began to pour down from the sky. This excited me because I felt like it was, somehow, purifying the places it fell upon from lasts year’s sorrows giving way to a new “aura of hope”. And I just love the smell of rain, don’t you? As a matter of fact, when I woke up at eight the first thing I noticed was the smell of the morning’s dew, the breeze entering through the windows, the utter and complete silence that surrounded me.

A little time later, it started to rain once again so I thought of using that time to send some friend “happy new year’s” wishes. Somehow, it felt that I owed it to them and I didn’t feel like procrastinating such a thing at all.

After the rain had fallen, the sun came out and a beautiful blue sky with scarce gray and white clouds could be seen through the gaps in the windows. So, I decided to go back to my house sitting duties.

And that’s when the miracle started. As I drove the first thing I noticed was the lack of traffic, like I mentioned before. Completely deserted streets but for the cars parked on the driveways. I wondered then if this was something that only happened here, in Puerto Rico, or would people notice similar occurrences elsewhere?

A man peeing on his rooftop, thinking no one would notice…
A guaraguao (red tailed hawk) flying through the air…
The remnants from one of last night’s accidents at a street light…
The fallen leaves been moved by the blowing of the wind and not by some car just passing by…
Light after light turning green upon my arrival so I wouldn’t have to stop…
People buying their morning bread at a bakery at noon…
And the radio playing songs such as “Alive” by P. O.D. to enhance the feelings of the experience…

It was truly a magnificent thing.

I guess I have found a new tradition

Well, it looks like it will start to rain again…ah, that smell…
I feel so alive
For the very first time
I can’t deny you
I feel so alive
I feel so alive
For the very first time
And I think I can fly (fly)

I just hope this isn’t some kind of cosmic joke been played upon me. Oh, well, I guess only time will tell.