Sunshine makes me happy.

April 5, it is 25 degrees at 8 AM.

The last several days have been more like early February than early April.

Several days of the last week have seen temperatures of mid twenties and winds upward of 50 miles per hour.  I view weather like that to be something of a test of character.  The dog needs to be walked versus my need to stay under the comforter in bed at 6 AM. .  Character says the dog walks.  And thus far he has walked without fail.  Every day. Does that mean I have character or am a character.
Cold
But everyday I have moaned and groaned about the idea of leaving the ever so warm and comfortable bed to plunge into the cold artic air. The bed has been particularly inviting the last several months of winter. Oh, it is so cozy and comfortable. You must know how it is.

It is even more comfortable on those mornings following a night  laying awake awaiting the arrival of the son home from work at some unacceptable hour.  As in last night.

 The weather people call it a polar vortex or artic air mass.  I just call it cold.  It involves a conversation with myself and only obliquely with the dog.

The dog starts the conversation by coming upstairs, pushing the bedroom door open and coming to my side of the bed, His nose rises stealthily above the edge of the mattress until it meets mine. His is cold, mine is warm, His eyes are bright and mine are barely open and bleary.  He is smiling his disarming smile. (Dogs do smile, they do laugh  and don't let anyone tell you otherwise).  He waits an then starts the conversation by several quick nudges delivered firmly to my forehead or chin or cheeks.

I respond with a sighed  OK,  never once have I ever said  "go away" I have said a couple of minutes, but not go away..  This dog is the third child we never had. Go away is something he almost never hears.

 I pick up the clothing I have left on the floor next to the bed the night before. Positioned for my change in the dark. Wool socks and jeans and downstairs we go.  He leads the way, that is after he bumps by me on the stairs nearly killing me each time.

To the den, for hats , gloves, jacked and headlamp,  Poop bags stuffed into pockets we are off.  It is not too bad at 25 degrees, no wind, we quickly do a mile or so and are home.  Breakfast , newspaper, jockey cars and frizbie for a half an hour.  It is now time to ready for work.  Shower, shave , change and now I am ready to go.

I look and look and I can't find the pup.  I look and look. He has let himself out by pushing the storm door open.  There he is laying on the patio in a beam of sunlight.  There is enough heat in that light for him to find comfort and there he is just laying there warmed by a gentle sun. Not unlike my bed at 6 AM it is warm in the sum, even if the air is bitterly cold.  He found a spot shielded from any wind and there he sits.  He lays there smiling, so I know he is sublimely content . Dogs have the ability to find that spot where the sun shines only on them.  I nudge him back inside as I have to go to work, someday I want to find that spot where the sun shines only on me.

Turnabout is fair play.