sometimes a smile is all it takes

this week, i've been (gasp!) EARLY to work. not even just on time, but early. this is big for me. I mean, i'm always on time, but never really early. i blame it on my addiction to facebook (first step is admittance, right?) now that i've deleted facebook, i waste less time in the morning. sure, i still hit snooze three times before i get out of bed, but seeing as it really only takes me half an hour to get ready, that's not a big deal. so monday and tuesday, i was early. fantastic.
today though, i was late. i woke up as normal, around 7:50, got myself ready, DID my hair (which really doesn't mean much since i was just trying to hide the fact that my hair isn't even clean currently. gross. ignore that statement.) and thought i would have time to get myself a lunch. 8:43. looked out the window and realized it had snowed overnight. which meant my car would be covered in snow. not a big deal right? we haven't had too much snow as of late, i'm sure it was just a dusting. nope. it was definitely a good 2, 2.5 inches on my car that needed to be wiped clean before i could leave. i was still in good spirits though. i love the snow. it's just a pain sometimes.
i finally left my apartment around 8:50. as i'm stopped at the stop sign at 800 N and 200 E, i see a friend standing at the corner waiting to cross the street to walk to campus.
i honk.
no response.
i roll down my window and yell their name.
still nothing. but that's when i realize they have headphones in.
i honk again.
recognition!
i wave; they wave and smile back.
as i'm watching this friend continue their trek across the street and up the ramp to campus, i see that they still have a smile on their face from that run-in. {you know the smile-the one that shows up when you're thinking about a happy moment, a funny joke, whatever. you can't hold it in, it shows up involuntarily} glad i could {hopefully) make what could potentially be a bad day with finals, better for them, and in return, make my own day that much brighter. that smile has taken me through the day. {and if i had been early/on time like the previous two days, i would have missed that moment. tender mercies.}
tuesday, i had other smiles taking me through the day; the looks from across the room, with that hint of a smile in their eyes, as someone is watching you (not creepily), with the hopes that maybe you're paying attention, but the fear that maybe you're not. potential butterflies? yes.