Walking the dog

Sleep deprivation is starting to be a problem.  My appetite is not like it used to be.  I feel starving at times, but there is no satisfaction after I eat.  I am eating three meals a day, but not as much and sometimes I need to be reminded to eat.  My heart beats a little faster than it should throughout the day and I don't seem to be drinking as much water as I usually do.  I am a big water drinker, so I am probably just hovering around what most people drink on a regular basis.... but I am feeling somewhat dehydrated.  I will try to do better today with the water, since it is the only thing over which I have real control.  My son wanted to sleep in my bed last night, which was good with me. We had some good alone time chats before he drifted quickly off to a deep sleep.

He has dog duty this morning and is out right now walking our male, soft coated wheaten terrier.  We have a female, too, but she does not enjoy to go on walks. My husband always had done the early morning walks. At first he would complain a little, by saying the children should be more responsible by getting up and taking care of it. When we started to set things up for the children to do it, he admitted that he loved doing it and did not want to turn it over to them.  It had become the culmination to his morning time with God... kind of like icing on a cake.  Everything he did in his morning routine gave him quiet, mind time with God to pray and listen.  Drinking coffee in the dark, followed by praying in the dark, then a dim light to read his Bible, next came the drive to the club, thought time while on the treadmill or elliptical, the drive home from the club, and finally, the second cup of coffee while walking Brady in our neighborhood. He told me that he got in his best prayer time while out walking the dog.  He allowed himself to pray from his soul while enjoying nature. When I would walk the dog at times later in the day, I seemed to always focus on training him instead of just enjoying the walk. Most of the time, Michael would let Brady meander all over at the end of his leash, allowing him to take in all of the wonderful scents he could find.  This allowed Michael's mind to drift where God wanted it to go. He would also have periods of just happily walking side by side together.  All of the morning walkers, runners, and other dog people knew his face and his good mornings with a smile.  I had a neighbor tell me that she always knew she was on time for carpool when she saw Michael pass her driveway with Brady.  If he was ever out of town on business or camping trips, I dreaded knowing that some of us had to get up earlier than usual so that we could "do the dogs".

Along with all kinds of bird calls, (He could call in an owl from over 300 yards until it was perched in a tree right next to us.), Michael could "talk" to our dogs and get them to "talk" back.  He would tilt his head back, jut his chin out just a little, and start this series of howling.  They would sit at his feet looking up at him like he was the best thing in the world and happily carry on conversations together.  He would then get tickled at them, or tickled at me getting frustrated, because it always seemed he had those talks with the dogs while I was in the middle of a phone conversation or trying to listen to messages on the voicemail. By choice, he would take both of them to and from the vet, as well as make all grooming appointments. When December hit each year, he would make an appointment for their "Christmas cut', as he called it, so that they would look nice for all of our entertaining.  He was disciplined in all that he did. Responsibilities were taken seriously,but never with resentment.



I think it would be good for me if I could take up that morning walk.... someday.