Mornings

I love mornings! I especially love it when Jenny stays home to share them with me. There is something unique about this time of day that distinguishes it from the afternoon, evening, or night. Let me explain.

I'm usually woken up by a loud, obnoxious, self-important sounding alarm. Jenny gets up, gets dressed, and I follow her into the kitchen. She sits down on the floor, grabs me and smothers me with kisses and says "Good morning Lottie." Next she asks me if I'm hungry and I jump up excitedly to show that I am. I eat and drink quickly as I am still not able to savour each morsel.

Then I run to the living room window and inspect the neighbourhood while I wait for Jenny to get her coat and boots on. Each day I hope that this will be the time she forgets to put my harness on, but she never does. She says "Lottie, come here, we have to put your harness on." Sometimes I defiantly look away and pretend I don't hear, but she moves closer and puts it on me anyway while declaring "you have to put your harness on if you want to go outside." I can barely contain myself the moment the door opens. I jump and whine and as soon as I feel the blast of cool air I unleash a mighty bark upon the world (which humans rarely appreciate).

This morning was wonderful. It was quiet, fresh smelling, bright, clear, and slightly cool. Only a few cars passed by. I sniffed the ground and the air. I watched and listened for birds and squirrels ( I haven't seen any bunnies for ages) but heard neither. The loudest noise was the sound of Jenny's boots crunching through the snow. My leash prevents me from going very far, and sometimes this bothers me, but it is much more tolerable in the morning. It even adds to the feeling of connectedness with Jenny. Mornings hold so much promise, they feel optimistic, joyful, tranquil, and special and I love sharing all of this with her.

After we get back she cleans me up, has her breakfast and pours the coffee. She invites me to sit with her in the coziest chair which she and Dad call the "grandpa chair" and we look out the window together. This morning we saw many long shadows across the front yard and on the street. I wish mornings would never end...

With love & cuddles,

Lottie

Lesson # 36 Mornings hold our hopes and offer in return a fresh start to all who are willing to embrace them.

Patience

I think I'm losing my patience! I spend most of my time waiting for my parents and it's driving me crazy!

Example # 1

Due to the mild weather lately I've been able to go for long walks. I'm very happy about this as there are always many things to smell and investigate. My only disappointment has been waiting for Jenny. She can't always keep up, especially when I'm running up hill in deep snow. Sometimes I'm tempted to bark at her so she knows I want her to hurry up, but I never do (I don't want to push my luck). Instead I do my best to keep going. I know that she's trying to be quick and can't help only having two legs. Poor thing! She reminds me that most dogs walk beside their owners and that I should be grateful that she lets me run ahead of her. The arrogance! I'm pretty sure I could wriggle out of my harness, but I know this would upset her so I try to be patient.

Example # 2

Frequently my parents ask me if I want to "go downstairs for a movie". They know this is one of my favourite activities. Since I'm always in the mood for a movie, I run downstairs as fast as I can (even in the dark) and wait for them on the couch. Meanwhile they take forever getting their sweaters, making tea, bringing down cookies... it's almost enough to drive one to insanity! To speed them up I demean myself by crying loudly in the most annoying way I can muster. Then when they do make it downstairs I get so excited that I run back and forth on the couch wagging my tail and snapping at the air before lying on my back for a belly-rub. Daddy has started calling me "snapper" in a silly voice when I do this. Apparently I remind him of a snapping turtle.

Example # 3

I love the sound of the coffee maker! When I hear coffee brewing I know that "coffee & cuddles" are sure to follow. I'm always eager for cuddles and since coffee is hot and takes awhile for my parents to drink, I get to stay with them even longer than usual. You might think this is a sure thing, but sadly it is not. Sometimes the coffee finishes brewing before they notice, so I have to jump around and whine to remind them. If it wasn't for me they might forget about it all together and remember it hours later when it's cold and ruined.

Now that you've heard all the facts, I'm sure you'll agree that my parents can be exasperating. At least I've kept my dignity intact by remaining calm. Despite such tribulations I know they are minor, and I'm lucky to have moments to look forward to and people to share them with. I will continue to do my best to be patient.

With love & cuddles,

Lottie

Lesson # 34 Patience requires effort, discipline, and empathy -- and it is worth it!