It all happened in the blink of an eye. I was standing in line at a BART station outside San Francisco waiting to take the rapid transit train into the city.
By sheer chance, I turned around and saw the early morning sunlight casting long shadows across the pavement and onto the concrete wall behind me. I was charmed by the perfect symmetry: each rider perfectly spaced, with the different heights creating an undulating pattern that flowed into the distance.
Didn’t anyone else notice this? Apparently not. Everyone had their eyes glued to their smartphones or to the distant tracks, looking for the incoming train.
I reached into my shoulder bag and pulled my camera out in one quick motion. Not wanting to miss this visual gift, I hurriedly composed the scene, focused and pressed the shutter button.
And then – POOF! – it was gone.
As soon as I clicked the shutter, the BART train rolled up. The shadows vanished as the riders hustled through the doors of the train.
W. Somerset Maugham said, “Nothing in the world is permanent, and we’re foolish when we ask anything to last, but surely we’re still more foolish not to take delight in it while we have it.”
That morning at the train station left me with one of my favorite pictures – and a poignant reminder to heed Maugham’s advice.
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