It’s always nice to start someone else’s day by putting a smile on their face.

This morning I got to see such a smile twice as I made my way home from work. I walked into the Metro parking garage with my iPod blaring and just a short drive standing between me and some much needed sleep.

As I got closer to my car on the first level, I saw a car slowly creeping past the rows. If you have ever been to a mall, you know exactly what I’m talking about. The driver is in a quest for the perfect space, even though the odds suggest they won’t find it here. They should really be up on the fourth level since this prime real estate filled up two hours ago.

But this young woman was in luck. She happened to come into the garage just as someone was going home from work at 8:45 a.m.

About five seconds after I first spotted her, she came to a stop. She looked at me hoping I was actually there to retrieve a car and not just cutting through the garage on my way to somewhere else on foot. Lacking a better way to communicate, I simply pointed in the direction of my car and gave her a nod.

Smile number one.

It took me another 20 seconds or so to actually get to the car. Then in the process of fumbling for my keys and taking off my backpack while still listening to the iPod, I got the headphones tangled in the backpack. Another 15 seconds of getting myself free from that web and I was able to vacate the now-coveted space.

As I drove by she gave me a wave and what was easily the biggest smile I had seen all day. Granted, I had not seen many people, and most that I did see were on the train on their way to work. But whatever.

My last post featured some sort of vague promise about posting yesterday, but working overnights really scrambles your concept of days/time so I’ll just say this is close enough. An example of the craziness — It’s slightly before 10 a.m. and I just had a bowl of cereal for “breakfast,” and will now be going to bed.

Good Mornight.