Jesus, it is TOO EARLY on a Saturday for me to go through what just happened. And no coffee yet, even!
This morning after I got up and let dogs out and back in, and fed everyone, I had taken some garbage out to the carport. I thought I had latched the door completely shut. I went back into the office and sat perusing the internets. It got quiet. I didn’t notice anything.
After a time, I got up to make said coffee… and the door in the kitchen to the big, evil, outside world was wide open. I raced out to the carport.
Gypsy and Pixel were cat-skulking around the car- I yelled and both flew into the house. But where were the dogs? And it hit me- Sumi didn’t have her collar on. Panic really began to set in.
I threw on shoes and grabbed my keys and wallet, belatedly realizing I should have grabbed my phone. I did a quick tour around the block, windows down, looking. Nothing, turn by turn by turn. I decided to head to the recently redone park/community area behind our house. I looked up on the ridge as I banked through the turn, and there they were- Sumi, smiling and gleefully leading Loki through a tour of the new area. Both were running and smiling and looking like life was just. So. AWESOME.
I parked the car and turned the hazards on, and ran up the stairs. They hadn’t seen me yet, but probably heard me calling. I don’t know the last time I ran up three extra-long flights of stairs like that. At the top, they were nosing around and smelling, and about 40 yards from me. I called Sumi first.
“Sumi! Hey, whatcha doin’?” She stopped and stared at me. I could see on her face she was planning at least two moves ahead.
“Let’s go for a ride! You ready? C’mon!” And I started back down the stairs. Shooting a glance behind me- they were both racing to catch up. The panic began to ease.
We got about a third of the way down when both were in grabbing distance. I snatched Loki up, muddy as a goat, then Sumi. But she’s 30lbs and I can’t carry 40lbs of struggling wet dogs. So I put her down but held onto her scruff. She obediently went into the car. Loki of course didn’t have much choice.
Once home I toweled them off -both were very muddy- and then hugged them long. Back in the house they went and I finally brewed that pot of coffee.
I think I’ve had enough excitement for one day.