The Cat's Away

Dear Amy,

Thanks for hanging out me this week since M&D decided to split for Colorado to go skiing. Nevermind that Breckenridge got five inches of snow in the past 24 hours or that Mom can't actually ski because she broke her foot that day I had to go to the vet. Who needs groomed mountains and four-star cuisine? You have vegetable pad thai, tonight's episode of Gossip Girl recorded and ME... what more could you possibly want?

I appreciate the fact that you make sure the couches, chairs and beds all through the house all have blankets for me to sleep on whenever I feel like lounging in their respective rooms, and that you sleep later than M&D do... I need my beauty rest. You should know by now that, without fail, I will steal the spot you were just sitting in on the couch or the blanket you were just snuggled in, because you took the time to preheat it for me. I know you admire my space-defying ability to take up as much of the bed as possible, even though I weigh about 14 pounds. If you would just give me my own pillow, I would not have to wake you up in the middle of the night by sleeping on yours.

I don't really know what an oxymoron is, because, you know I'm a dog and all, but I think that drifting to sleep on my plaid bed while you spent Saturday afternoon watching March Madness from a bubble bath would constitute as such. I like it when you talk to me like I'm a person, because I will always cock my head and acknowledge that yes, I understand exactly what you mean.

You know that I have to sit rightnexttoyou, and that I will start kicking you the minute you stop scratching my head. I hate the agony of going on a w-a-l-k with you and knowing that you're going to take me inside and leave me there while you leave again to go on your own j-o-g.

I will inevitably smell your clothes when you get home to make sure you haven't been cheating on me with other dogs; an unforgivable transgression.

For the record: I'm only following around until Mom gets back.

XOXO,

Lucy

"My little dog - a heartbeat at my feet. "
-Edith Wharton