The Little Pack

With a lead-in like that, you know this has to be about Cheyenne. This morning I woke with my neck cranked and aching, head half off the pillow. Not too long after coming to consciousness, the reason why became all too clear. Cheyenne had appropriated my pillow for herself; to sleep on, and slowly but steadily pushed me out of the way. And man was she cozy. Now you have to truly know Cheyenne to understand that there was not even a hint of disobedience or insubordination in this act. She simply stumbled upon this great spot and could not believe her good fortune. Further, I can imagine she was quite amused with herself for never thinking about sleeping in this spot before. It’s funny as long as this is not  a new pattern.

Mornings are a special time in the Little Pack household, packed full of sweetness and celebration. IO very often greets me with nose nibbles and headrolls. These are clearly joyful acts. Once I start to stir, Jackson and IO will often begin to bark and carry on with celebration while Cheyenne races back and forth next to the bed, wiggling all the while. Archie waits at the bedroom door and purrs the moment he sees me.  Everyone races down the hallway. Baby Titten sits on the arm of the couch and burrupts as I walk by and I pat her on the head. Dixie speeds ahead into the kitchen and leaps and twirls around, woofing. She wants  a morning snack. Archie also gallops into the kitchen, bounds up onto the counter and waits by the sink for me to turn his water on. Meanwhile Jack rejoices that he found his favorite toy and asks me to throw it. Sometimes IO lingers in bed a little longer, catching a few more zzzzs before strolling out to the living room to wait for a few last bites of my breakfast.  All of this takes place while I am on autopilot, still in stupor. I am not a morning person, in fact, I can barely function when I first wake up. It occurs to me just how sweet these waking hours are, and how ironic that it all takes place while I am still too unconscious to fully treasure and savor each moment the way that I would like to.

IO seems very wise to me here, and indeed, she is. This is classic IO: she loves to relax. In the mornings, she is the last to get up, as though she needs to adjust to the idea of waking up. Instead of going outside right away she hangs out with me while I eat breakfast, and while I also adjust to the idea of being awake. She is a dog after my own heart! In the summer, relaxing means laying in the grass, soaking up the sun.

This morning, the very act of me waking up caused a major celebration amongst the animals. Before I even got up, every time I moved even a little, Jackson barked jubilantly and leaped off the bed. Cheyenne came and gave me kisses on my face which makes me nervous considering I’ve seen what she eats outside. So I finally open my eyes, and what do I see but several toys strategically placed around me. That would be Jackson’s doing. I should I explain I am not a morning person, at all. But I oblige and throw his toy a few times before I even get up!  Once I get out of bed, complete chaos ensues. Dogs start racing around everywhere, the cats are crying, Dixie and Jack are bringing me their toys, IO is leaning against me, Chey is playing with a toy (what is that about lately? very strange), Archie starts crying, and I call him to me and he comes to me! He lets me pick him up and put him in my lap, which is maybe only the 2nd or 3rd time ever. He is not a lap cat. And then my husband asks if I want a cup of coffee and brings it to me. I really couldn’t ask for more this morning. A husband and a whole pack of animals that love me!