DOG DAYS

Just Ask Willow

Daylight Saving Time promised I could sleep in. Our pooch had other plans.

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Written with heart, humor and a stubborn refusal to stay silent
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Guess who’s back asleep? Photo by a sleepy author.

Fall back they said. You’ll have an extra hour of sleep, they swore.

So then why am I sitting here in the dark at 4 in the stinking morning?

Because the Daylight Saving guys forgot to tell the dogs. Especially Willow, the canine alarm clock.

At 5 every morning, she starts her little huffing — usually right by my ear. At 5:05 every morning, she turns up the volume. I try to quiet her. She has no snooze button. By 5:10 Tricia mumbles something about Willow wanting to eat. By 5:15 everybody’s barking at me.

It does no good to bark back. I get up, grab the dog and head out of the room.

Except now, 5 is 4.

According to my phone, at least.

All the other clocks still are on Willow Whining Time.

As for Ten Pounds of Tough Phoebe, Willow’s sister? For her, every time is sleep time.

Willow’s at my feet now, giving me her version of “The Look.” It’s a steady stare, a few short puffs and a tail…