What a wonderful frosty morning it was for a spin on the bike. The sun had been shining for a few hours and the roads were practically ice free. The air was crisp, and my legs were showing signs of life.

As I came around a bend I encountered someone walking a horse. The sun was in my eyes so I couldn’t make out any of their features but the reply to my “Good morning” came in the form of a beautiful smile.

I’m accustomed to dour verbal or facial responses when greeting strangers on the road. I was not expecting this real and wonderful smile. As if infected, I smiled the rest of the way home.