Cities… in spite of everything they aren’t, they certainly are a display of human ingenuity. Daily, as I sit in traffic (going nowhere fast) I marvel at the layering of highways on top of each other and over buildings, the tunnels, the bridges. This morning I parked four levels underground in the garage beneath the Russell Investment Center. When I go places like this, and like the Columbia Tower which is the tallest in the city, I try not to think too long about where I am lest I become anxious or claustrophobic or acrophobic.

So I came up from the parking garage, got my directional bearings again and went up to the 17^th floor of the Russell Investment Center to wait a couple hours for my daughter’s work meeting to be finished. Besides the cafeteria, meeting rooms and lounges complete with TV and fireplaces the 17^th floor has an outdoor area that is a marvel in itself. Calling it a patio doesn’t adequately describe it’s size. Part of this building is only 16 stories high and on it’s roof is the most amazing garden. The rest of the building continues up.

Who thinks of these things? To put mounds of dirt, trees and huge slabs of rock on top of a building probably isn’t any harder than making the building itself, but to think of doing it and making it beautiful is kind of an accomplishment. There is an almost unobstructed view of the city and the harbor in three directions. Today there is only a mild breeze, the sun is shining and the temperature is just right for enjoying the area. You do not need a pass to get there, but it is not crowded since it is mostly the people who work in the building who use it. I’m just sayin’ it is a great place to get a look at the city.