Skateboard Heaven I come around the corner and a smile appears on my face. I love it when there are no crowds. Only two other people braved the cold and had the will to get up so early. When I arrived, my vision improved. Although I have seen enough of it to burn an image into my subconscious, each visit brings a new sense of wonder. I climb onto the lower platform and quickly scale the small wall to the upper part. I nod towards the other who is already there. I've seen him before, but I don't need to know his name. A silent friendship binds us, which rarely needs words. An occasional cheer or grimace says more than the daily conversation most are forced to endure. The sound of the second person rolls softly into my ears. His image appears in the corner of my eye as I inspect my shoes. I rub the soles back and forth on the pavement, out of habit, to ensure a dry surface. I don't bother to watch him. I can hear it rolling gently down. His slow, relaxed warm-up tells me he probably arrived a short time ago. He climbs the back wall and his wheels become silent. The other puts his foot on his tail and effortlessly rolls his truck onto the coping. I watch him quickly move away and roll up to his hip. He walks past and I begin to notice the entire view in front of me as he fades into the larger picture. I see gray. Each shade of gray, in all its variety, blends and curves from the lightest whites to a depth rivaling black. The darkness buzzes above the sky with the sound of a thousand automobile tires whirring atop the bridge. Although designed for another purpose, it also serves as protection against rain and bad weather. The sun and the light, as well as the wind, come from the sides. The wind blows gently this morning, but it nips at exposed skin. I know I'll soon appreciate its calming aspects as I warm up, so I try not to be bitter about it cooling my already cool body. I hear the familiar pop of an ollie and my eyes automatically follow