Gratitude is the only attitude today, so says Gabby. When the sun is shining, and my perfect coffee beckons on a lazy morning, I’m all about gratitude. Love life. Hand me those Vitamin Ds, will ya?

As I shared in my previous post, I’m living life in VT without a car. Not by choice, mind you — but am adjusting to the temporary kink in my well-oiled day-to-day machine. I’m lucky enough to have a city bus that runs nearby — and my plan was to hop in for a 5:30 yoga class tonight, taught by a wonderful, meticulous Anusara teacher.

If only Vermont buses ran with such precision. Combine a drizzly rain and dropping temperatures, and my gratitude meter fell as darkness grew thick and minutes slid by. The guy using the snowbank as a giant tissue and spittoon didn’t help matters — but strangely enough, made me miss NYC.

Yes, these are small things in life. My inconvenience can hardly be compared to say, those who lost everything during Irene. However, when things aren’t on time — make it a bus, friend or client — I can get a little….crinkly around the edges. I always joke that yoga students are the most Zen of people until something changes.

In NYC, I took buses up, down and crosstown with aplomb. When one was late, another would zoom up within minutes. All kinds of people took the bus, from the scraggliest men to the flashiest UES ladies. But that was the City. Truth be told, I was a little embarrassed standing at the bus stop tonight. Why? Because I’m a snob. I want my own warm car and not be reliant on a bus. I don’t want to be the woman who stands in the rain next to a guy mumbling to himself. When I told a few people that I’d take the bus, they crinkled their nose and offered me rides.

It’s an odd contrast — I’m grateful for public transportation (a luxury in VT) but don’t want to be the woman riding the bus. I’ll do it, anyway. It’s good to learn this lesson in patience and gratitude — and yes, be humbled.

I felt that old city girl get cranky but I’m still grateful — even though I ultimately gave up class after waiting an endless 30 minutes for the bus that never arrived.

I was really looking forward to class — but that’s okay. I can spend a hour on my mat. Tomorrow’s another day — and another chance to catch the bus. At least I have a 2 hour lag time before arriving at Pyramid for sessions. Hopefully, that will be enough.