Saturday, December 29, 2018

Mornings

I’m generally awake around 3 AM.  Sometimes I make it until 4, but not often.  If I wake up earlier than 3 AM, I force myself to lie in bed, hoping I can go back to sleep.  Here’s the problem:  I love mornings, for a variety of reasons... first of all, at my age I’m just glad to see another day, I’m so grateful to get one more chance at life.  Then of course, there’s coffee.  The thought of coffee makes me want to get up and make the thought a reality.  Oh yes, and there’s the peace, solitude, and quiet of the mornings.  It’s the best time to catch up on Words with Friends and read whatever book I’m in the middle of.  As long as I can remember, morning has been the best part of my day.  Anything could happen in those hours that seem to stretch endlessly before me like a plush carpet.

Gabe joins me in my early morning solitude.  I usually start my coffee first thing out of bed, then put on my coat, let Gabe out of his kennel, hook his leash onto his collar, and take him outside to check his pee-mail and make a deposit.  It doesn’t take him long; then he and I sit side-by-side in my ratty old recliner, covered with a blanket, until 4:30, when he eats.  I say, “Are you hungry?” And he is instantly awake and struggling to escape the blanket and get to the floor.  It only takes him five minutes, tops, to eat.  Then he’s right back beside me, covered head to toe.  Of course, I get up several times during those three or four hours until Cliff gets up:  There are visits to the bathroom and trips to the kitchen for coffee; I always tell Gabe where I’m going and what I’m doing, although he rarely even raises his head to let me know he hears.

I wish you could see me getting out of the recliner:  You see, Gabe likes to extend his head and upper body to the footrest of the chair, so if I let down the footrest, he’d fall on the floor head-first.  It wouldn’t hurt him a bit, but because I get up so often, I hate to bother him.  (Yes, I’ve become that dog-person.).  So I sort of dangle my right leg off the side of the footrest to the floor, scoot my butt up as far as I can, and contort my arthritic body sideways, holding firmly to the armrests, until I’m standing.  Gabe sleeps through all this, which makes me happy I didn’t disturb him.  Here he is, waiting for me to somehow get back in the recliner without disturbing him:

It’’s a dog’s life, right?

And now you know how I start my day.  

Love,
Donna


8 comments:

  1. Sounds like a great way to start the day! Hope your have a super Saturday!

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  2. Sounds a lot like how I start my day, dog(s), coffee, recliner included. But, my day doesn't start quite that early. Have a good day!

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  3. Donna, I love-love-love this beautiful description of your mornings. I felt like I was actually there, going through your morning routine with you. I love early mornings too. If I could wake up sometimes between 3am and 4am, I would do it in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, getting up at that time comes with going to bed early too. I would also do that in a heartbeat but... no matter how long I've been awake, I have such a hard time falling asleep. Gah!! But my ideal schedule would be to fall asleep around 8pm and wake up at 4am. Maybe someday God will allow me that pleasure on a daily basis. In the meantime, enjoy an early get-up for me. Love, Andrea xoxo

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  4. If you inserted my name where you say I, this could be my morrning, my life. Well, would have to put Phineas in place of Gabe.

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  5. Coffee is the same way for me; the thought of it drags me out of bed, except at 7:30 or so. I'm usually awake before then, but not willing to get out of the warm, cozy bed. :) Mari is a cat; even so, she is excited to see me in the morning, and I her. Animals make it worth getting up in the morning.

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  6. You start your day similar to mine. I too am an early riser and I like the solitude. I do miss Missy though. She was my companion.

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  7. That's an adorable photo of Gabe. I'm definitely not a morning person. For some strange reason I function my best in the hours after midnight.
    Have a bright and blessed new year, Donna!

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