The Aerie

Why I Came To Work Today

I wondered why I was coming to work today. Yes, I need the money, but I've been working butt off, too, and could use the time off. Still, there has been no shortage of security brushfires leading up to Monday's imminent launch of my client's first international store in Mexico. So I headed in, despite my better judgment I think.

Murphy's Law being what it is, of course my presence here was almost entirely unnecessary, except I suppose for a little paperwork that I have processed. Then I happened to glance at my webcam from Svalbard, a Finnish Norwegian island north of the Arctic circle which will be familiar to readers of the Pullman "Dark Materials" novels. The view was too dark for the camera to make out colors, but the motion made it clear.

An aurora borealis.

I can't imagine any other situations other than sitting at work with my webcams running that would have led me to observe this celestial phenomenon. Therefore, I consider this ample evidence that the whole reason I came in to work today was so that I could be reminded of how lucky I am sometimes.