Why I love red lights

Fresh off the vine blackberries, that's why. Every morning since summer came around, I try to catch a red light. One red light in particular. If my timing is good, I have a minute or two to pluck a few juicy, ripe blackberries from my perch with one foot on the curb. People in cars next to me try not to stare - I can't tell if it's from envy or confusion.

Chatty neighbors, that's why. One woman I haven't seen for a while stopped to chat as I was stopped at another red light. "Oh, you're pregnant!" she exclaimed. She'd had her first child just last year, and as we shared tips and commiserated about carrying all that extra weight in the summer heat, I thought about how unlikely this scenario would have been from the inside of an air conditioned car, and silently resolved to appreciate my transportation mode more, August sun and all.