My days are very routine – at least from the time I wake up until I leave the house.
For instance, today, as in any other day, my dog, Chip was my alarm. 4:50 a.m. I hear a yelp, then a bark, then a scratch on his door. Though I try to turn over and ignore him, the pattern is repeated every few seconds until someone (read: me) comes to free him from his bladder-filled cage.
Once outside, he and Jack have to run around the yard, looking for former predators from the night before. While they do this, our cat, Sam meows at the top of her voice until a scoop of cat food lands in her bowl.
Next, I heat up a cup of coffee from yesterday’s pot (or make a new pot if there isn’t any more). Once the coffee is in hand, I let the dogs back into the house. At this point, the tippity-tap of their feet is like an Irish Rain Dance. They are in ecstasy, knowing my next move and the rapture it will bring into their other-wise dull lives. I make my way to the garage, where I gather the dog food, return to the office where the bowls are awaiting, and fill the dishes with just the right amount. They attack like a pack of ravenous wolves.
I return to the coffee, refilling and/or reheating the java in my mug and sit at my computer to begin to write.
Sam, the cat, now begins her mournful call. She is looking for Anita. She slowly makes her way upstairs where she will find a place on my wife’s hip or chest or feet and purr so loudly that the neighbors will call and complain.
The dogs have finished their 2 cups of dog food (Chip) and 1 cup of dog food (Jack) and are now taking their positions. Chip will find a stretch of floor closest to me. If I am in the living room, he will land on the carpet just in front of the recliner. If I am in the family room, he will flop down on in the center of the floor. If I am in the kitchen, he will groan his way down in front of the back door.
Today I was at the dining room table. My old black lab took his usual spot in the corner, moaning with each breath. Getting old is a bitch.
Jack finds his way to the couch in the family room, rearranges the pillows for several minutes, walks in circles (I think he’s trying to find north), and settles in for a nap (only 10 minutes after a full night’s sleep).
I have the house and the coffee to myself for another hour or so. I read the Bible, I write stories, I catch up on email and then at 6:00 a.m., I hear the footsteps of my wife as she pads her way to the bathroom. I head to the coffee pot to refill an empty cup and march up stairs to wake the remaining family members.
I turn on the hall light, open Emily’s door and let her know it is time to wake up. I hear her moan and know she’s semi-alert. I go to Ben’s room, turn on his light, and get close to his bed to wake him. This part of my day is when the variations begins to occur. Until now, everything I’ve reported is the same from day to day. But now I can change the routine. I might sing to him. I might play his guitar. I might pull off all the covers. I might climb on top of the covers and try to smash him. I never know what I will do and neither does he.
I return to Emily’s room. She hasn’t moved since my last visit. I might sing to her (if I created a good song for Ben and it should continue). I might shuffle slowly into her room, the anticipation building with each scuff of my feet, until I’m right at the edge of her bed. I might call Chip or Jack to help me wake her. They love this and will jump eagerly into her bed, sniffing her face until she screams for us all to get out. It sounds like she’s really mad but we know she’s just kidding. At least, I think she’s kidding. Well, once she was kidding. Okay, I don’t do the dog thing any more.
From this point on, the day is up for grabs. Ben might miss the bus. Emily might need to be out early. The trash goes out on Thursdays. Anita might need to pack some Mary Kay to deliver to someone at work. In a word: Chaos.
But today, once everyone was up and around, the day held something good and not chaotic. Today we drove to Bloomington to spend the day with my college student son. We had a wonderful time, took chili and brownies and fed a bunch of guys in the dorm lounge. It was a very nice time.
