I woke up somewhat early today. When I opened the shutters, I was immediately struck by the murky sky and the sodden landscape. Horrendous. But then I noticed a thin strip of blue and yellow light between the horizon and the heavy blanket of clouds. The air was so clear that one could see the Alps in sharp outline. The discovery was like a cookie for a distraught child. “There, there,” I could almost hear the mighty whisper from beyond the clouds.