I slept from 9 pm Friday night to 5 am Sunday morning. Or very nearly. Most of my waking time was spent in the bathroom. But when I woke up at 5 am this morning, just as the sky was lightening, I opened my eyes, and saw what time it was and investigated my body for cramps or accidents and, after a thorough investigation, and upon finding neither, I said, nearly soundlessly, “Oh, thank God.”

Yes, likely, God doesn’t make people feel better for asking just the same as he doesn’t make people feel worse because they didn’t ask or because they did a bad thing but still I was relieved, and I had to express my relief the best way I knew how.

I couldn’t get back to sleep. This is no surprise. I had slept, for the most part, for 30 hours or so. I got dressed and took Murphy for a longer walk. I wouldn’t have forced her out for a walk. But when I got up and sat on the couch, as light was coming, she sauntered up to me and wagged her tail enough to let me know that she was up for it. And this worked out well for me because I wanted to go outside and because I had been shortchanging Murphy on walks for the past few days and I wanted to give her a nicer walk, a nicer walk than, well, than my ass had recently afforded her.

I love summer mornings. Especially around 6 am. Everything, so quiet, peaceful. The dew is still on the grass. I took Murphy to the park down the street. 6 am is prime time for squirrel stalking. Murphy lets me know immediately when she sees a mark. Front right paw goes up and under her. She stands with everything forward, except her tail, counterbalance. Ears alert. And literally, she stalks. Unblinking. One tiny step. Another. I indulge her. I unleash her and whisper, “Ok.”

Oh, she tries so hard. But I think she shall never catch one. I don’t think I would let her try if I thought she could catch one. She’s terrifically fast, true, but squirrels are equally fast. And all they need is a tree. And whenever we see a squirrel they are never far from a tree. Still, I can’t help but wonder what she might do if she ever catches one.

Not far from that squirrel’s sanctuary was this cart sitting beside this light. And everybody seems to have a shopping cart picture, so here’s mine. This pictures is not nearly as cool as this one at No Traces, but that’s all the energy you’re going to get out of me today.

Not quite back into the pink, I think I’m ready for another nap.

SS