Each morning I awaken to have five little eyes staring at me. This is a morning ritual for the three dogs to let me know that they have been waiting all night to go outside. Getting dressed, turning on the coffee pot, donning my jacket, gloves, and earmuffs I open the door to the crispness of the cold air. Although dressed for winter, the piercing cold is overwhelming and I ask myself, how can a dog produce so much water, walk five feet and produce as much as the first time. By the time the two males have taken their turns “high marking” each other at least a half dozen times, I give up and head for the house, warmth and hot coffee, while they curl up for a nap.

In an hour of so, they will awaken from their naps and once again, the five eyes will stare at me until I once again go through the ritual of putting on my coat, throwing gloves, ear muffs, and reach for the tennis ball. About half way through this morning ritual, “Dutch” starts his toller howl, while “Goldie” looks up at me with a trembling body and wagging tail, and “ole one eye” just lays on the floor and watches, reserving his energy for the ball game. The game begins, first a long throw down the driveway, that one is for Dutch since he is the fastest. The next one is a fake down the driveway, a quick turn, and a throw the opposite direction for Goldie and her slower legs. Ole One Eye “Ruger” knows the game well; he stays in the middle so he can break either direction so he gets a bounce pass in his direction. We are an equal player organization. The games continue for twenty to thirty minutes or until my throwing glove begins to freeze from the dog slobbers and wet ball. The game concluded a little early yesterday, considering it was ten below zero. The ball accidentally landed in the soft snow and the dogs commenced their sniffing and scratching, looking for the ball. After the four of us looked for ten minutes for the missing ball and numbness setting into my body, I called them off the ball. Dutch and Ole One Eye gladly followed me into the house, while Goldie was determined to find that ball. Checking on her several times, she had snow spread everywhere looking for the ball but still would not return to the house. Fearing that she would suffer a stroke or freeze to death, I finally took a second ball, when she was not looking I deposited the ball as if I were hiding Easter eggs. Goldie found her ball, she was happy and I was happy to return to the warmth of the house. Looking at the clock, I realized it would be just three more hours until the afternoon game was scheduled.

This break gives me time to reflect on other things that I could be doing other than freezing to death. How enjoyable it would be to sit on the deck and drink my morning coffee, watching the sun appear over the top of the trees. However, that will have to wait until May. The sun will not come to me; perhaps the best solution is to go to the sun!