This morning, my husband headed out for a bike ride. I stayed home. I had work to do.

I didn’t love working on a Saturday morning. I regretted pitching the talk I now had to prepare for. Why did I sign up for something that adds more work for myself?

When I finished my slide deck, though, I felt an enormous sense of satisfaction. Then, especially since it was Saturday and I’d finished my most important To Do, I felt a release, and an enormous sense of freedom.

The sky I saw through the window was a brilliant blue with crisp white clouds. I had errands to run, so I grabbed my purse, threw on sunglasses and a driving hat to keep my hair out of my eyes, and tucked into our little Mazda Miata. I queued up R.E.M. on the stereo and cranked the engine.

When I pulled out of the neighborhood, felt the sun and wind on my skin, and heard the first song of the Green album start playing, I felt a surge of joy. What a reward after working this morning! I zipped through the gears, the round knob of the gearshift smooth in my hand. I sang all the songs — Pop Song 89, You Are The Everything, World Leader Pretend — and thought fondly of my 13 year old self with my besties when we saw R.E.M. on their Green tour.

The blushing pink cheeks of maples contrasted against blue sky. VT game day flags flapped from car windows. I don’t care about football, but I love game day in a college town. The air is full of excitement and smiles, and the sidewalks are full of garish collegiate colors.

I drove with the top down, happy that my work was done, energized by the reward of feeling the wind and listening to R.E.M. in a zippy car under a September sky.