Just read the weather of the last few days. It is the same today, cold in the mid 30’s. The mostly cloudy sky we had earlier has given way to blue. The breeze is light. All in all it is a pretty day but one best seen from inside the warm house.

I have been a sloth for a few days. Today I wanted to continue honing this streak of pure laziness, but because I needed the usual bread and cream, I figured I’d have to go shopping. Huzzah! I had the solution. I ordered groceries to be delivered. I ordered cleaning supplies, though as if comes to mind, fresh veggies, bagels, onion bagels of course and Snickers. Delivery is on its way.

The other night was a strange one. I have been fighting a cold and fell asleep on the couch watching television. When I woke up, I didn’t know where I was so I felt around and found I was on the couch. I turned off the room light and went to bed. A bit later I heard a dog barking from what sounded like far away. I felt bad that the dog was out in the freezing cold. I listened. I recognized the bark. It was Henry’s. I ran downstairs and sure as heck I had gone to bed leaving the kitchen light on and the door open, and Henry had taken advantage. That he won’t go in the door never crossed his mind. I let him and we both went to bed.

All of my dogs have been spoiled. They have treats, lots of treats, eat well and sleep on soft surfaces, my bed being prime. Duke the boxer, I grew up with, lived a Spartan life. He ate a can of what we thought was horse meat, no proof, just rumor. He had biscuits, sometimes. He got meat drippings and ends of meat. He slept on the rugs, prohibited from soft surfaces. He knew just how to rile my father in games of keep away. My father once got in the car and chased him. My mother tried treats to lure him inside. He’d grab the treats from her fingers and run. I swear he always smiled. Duke was free range, all dogs were back then. He protected us. He followed us everywhere if he could. He loved being patted. He was licker. He was warm and lying beside him on the rug kept us warm. He greeted us and greeted us again when we got home from being out visiting. We knelt down to greet him. He was our dog. We were his people.