Prairie Dog

Stella has both elated me and complicated my life. Her high energy level has required a 6:30 wake-up for the last three years. At first, this was a minor irritation, particularly in foul weather; however, this is now one of the best parts of my day. I used to get a very firm and insistent paw on the bed just after the morning alarm sounded. Stella was letting me know that snooze was not an option. As time went on, I learned I could steal just a few more minutes of sleep by letting her under the covers with me. She would curl up against my stomach and doze until the next alarm.

In recent months, our routine has changed just a bit. The insistent paw comes at 5:30. Stella isn't so interested in starting her walk this early (although she would without much coaxing). She wants a little time to warm up under the blankets. Stella has taken to burrowing at the bottom of the bed where she lays for an hour until either the alarm or her panting wakes me up.

Once out of bed I drowsily look for sneakers, a hat and gloves, while Stella dances around the house banging her tail and doing a high step. Every morning we walk the same route. It's a mile and a half and is affectionately called the "Kook-Loop" after one of Stella's many nicknames (Kook, Cucamonga, Stella-Bella, Bella Stella, Stella B, Stella).

This is a great time for both of us. The world is quiet and gives us time to think, sniff and pee. The last two are primarily her jobs. Stella loves to enthusiastically pull when we get to a particularly smelly corner and she has her favorite sniff/pee spots. I see some of the same people and dogs in the morning and we can both mark changes in the neighborhood - who is selling, who is remodeling, what interesting stuff is in the trash (we both like this one) and how tall the corn is this season.

Sometimes, when it is really cold or rainy, I don't want to get up. But once we are on the loop, I am always glad (for her and I) that I did. This unerring routine has forged a wonderful bond between us. I've watched so many sunrises, trees bloom, flowers spring up and snow storms with her that I feel like I can connect to nature that much better (even in Illinois) when I am with her. Stella's zest for life and activity is infectious and I appreciate the way she ushers in every morning.

Today, for the first time, she was unable to take her morning walk. We tried. Stella just couldn't do it today. As she lays on the floor beside me, mostly sedentary, I am thankful for the quiet mornings we've shared and for the way I've grown to know my neighborhood because of her. I hope we'll have this together again.