Morning Adventures Part II

Deep inhale. Slow exhale. Let's go.

The breeze is stiff and cold mimicking the way my legs feel. I jump a little to get the blood flowing and to remind my feet that they need to be awake for this. As I make my way to the end of the driveway doing arm stretches I learned in gym class circa 1987. Arm circles are totally what I need to do to prepare for the workout ahead.

One more deep breath knowing it will be my last full intake for a while and I begin. Pat, pat, pat, pat. I watch my feet move one in front of the other, almost not having to think about it but feeling tired already. I make it to the end of the block before my knee starts to freeze up and my ankle tightens to compensate. Stupid ankle. I push on trying to take in the early morning and savor it's innocence.

There is no one else out on the street but me. My neighbors are awake but they had the sense to remain indoors with their warm cups of coffee and their comfy couches. I see the windows glow with the flicker of the television set on the morning news or perhaps the infomercial on from the channel being watched the night before. That vacuum is amazing I must admit but I am sure the only purpose it serves this early is as background noise for teeth brushing and face shaving. I wonder how many of those vacuums they sell at 5:10 in the morning...

The yellow house with the brick mailbox catches my attention as the lawn sprinklers come to life. Someone doesn't understand that grass doesn't need to be watered twice a day this late in the fall. Oh well. I jog past the streams of water, being soothed by the soft shhhhh of the spray. I race the overflow in the gutter to the corner and make the turn thinking here would be a good spot to stop and take a breather but I hear my high school track coach's voice in my head telling my to "pick your feet up" and "mind over matter". He was also the science teacher so he used that last one a lot.

I take the advice to heart and press on. A dog barks which of course on this block leads to all the dogs barking at each other. Once the chatter dies down and I focus again on my breath or lack thereof. The road stretches out ahead of me, beckoning me to conquer it. Just you wait road. You'll get what's coming to you soon enough.

Morning Adventure Part I

Chimes.

What I thought would be the least annoying of the cell phone alarms, seem to come from a demon's triangle at 5am. After straining to reach it, and fumbling with it to get my code entered and the alarm turned off, my brain is officially strained before any real activity begins. I sigh heavily and fling my feet off the side of the bed in one motion. I have the same feeling I get when I jump into a pool in mid October but it's always better than the slow adjustment and eventual disappointment of slippers and a housecoat.

Tripping over my own foot and jamming my toe on the carpet, I make my way to the bathroom. Just to pee. Looking in the mirror at this hour of the day has never done anyone any good. One more heavy sigh, and I open the door as quietly as possible to not disturb my love who has now moved over to my side of the bed and already has a firm grip on my pillow. Looks like I'm not crawling back into bed after all.

I grab a pair of shorts from the dresser, and head to the living room. I don't know why, but I like getting ready here. More space I guess to spread out. I lace up my shoes and grab a light jacket from the coat closet, check my pocket for the house key and although I know she remains asleep, I slowly open and close the front door like a ninja as I tiptoe outside.

Deep inhale. Slow exhale. Let's go.

Epitaph For A Friend

He was the best friend that made other friends more comfortable. He was the dedicated and loyal one I came home to for years. He made himself available no matter what. When I needed someone to talk to or go out with, he was always there to encourage me. No matter what time of day or night, he was there for me. He listened, he cared, he felt what I felt. He came to me when he was hurting and I clung to him in times when I felt so alone.

At 3:15pm on October 19th, my closest friend in the world was laid to rest in the company and comfort of his family.

Tyson was not just my dog he was my boy. This wound up 2 year old puppy was given to me by a close friend, Mike, and it was an obvious instant connection. He came to me as a dog without a purpose but his purpose was soon revealed. As things in my world slowly came apart, he was my constant. He was with me on beautiful days outside chasing squirrels and sleeping on the floor beside me in front of the fireplace on the rainy ones. We shared the couch for movie nights and shared the comfort of each other on a daily basis.

Waking up to his whining in the morning on days I tried to sleep in. Playing tug of war with the rope and fetch with the stuffed duck. Running up and down the stairs a dozen times in a row. Scratching his belly and rubbing his ears. Wiping his slobber off my arm and his hair off my clothes. Feeding him, training him, teaching him tricks. He could jump up to the top bunk on a set of beds, roll over, shake hands, and respond to a series of clicks, whistles, and hand signals. These were my daily activities with him and I loved every minute of it.

If you were a child he would only play as hard as you wanted. If you were afraid of dogs, he would set you at ease. He was comforting and kind. He was loving and thoughtful. He was considerate and sweet.

He was a good dog.

He has been a key member of my family for over 8 years and has meant something special to many. He was the deciding factor on some major life choices my family made including where we moved and how we lived. Many of our plans revolved around his schedule and I believe he understood that sacrifice.

He was the best dog.

I believe he knew me better than many of my friends have. He has been with me through 5 moves, a divorce a marriage, and the torture of my newborn niece. He was my sole travel companion on my trip to California in the backseat of my tiny car. He adjusted well to the dramatic changes we experienced together and he did it with patience and understanding.

In the last year his health has quickly declined and it has been hard watching him hurt physically knowing he was completely content being with us. It was a hard decision and a tough day but I know he understood that I was taken care of and that what was happening was for his own good. I sat with him afterward for a long time feeling his fur under my fingers for the last time. He sighed hard and let go softly.

I will miss him because I loved him.

He was my best friend.