April 4, 2011

White Dog had just gotten resettled on the bed like she does every morning after Steve rises to get Michael off to school and have some quiet time of his own for meditation and exercise. We usually cuddle together and enjoy another 45 minutes of pre-alarm snoozing before Steve returns and the day officially begins.

BUT Steve's new schedule at school requires that he be the administrator to "open" the school one day a week (this semester that day is Mondays). He must be there by 7am...half an hour earlier than White Dog and I usually crawl out of bed. Steve and I have a tradition of sharing some kind of breakfast and starting the day together. So on Mondays, White Dog and I rise early and we join him as per our routine.

Puff, daddy's girl, never fails to be there prancing at his side with a happy look as WD and I scrub the sleep from our eyes and gratefully inhale the coffee. Nuka comes out about midway through breakfast and before greeting anyone goes out to the kitchen to check the food dishes. We can often hear Quinn shaking himself awake several minutes before he actually makes an appearance. TOWD says his "good mornings," sniffs the breakfast menu, and then usually heads back to bed.

At least when Steve gathers his gear and heads for the door at 6:40am it is now light. WD watches from the arm of my chair; Puff from the window; and Nuka from the door as Steve backs out of the drive and pulls away. Ten minutes later, all of the White Dogs are soundly back asleep.