Another 52 Weeks — #8

A slight shift in the morning shift

Feb 22, 2025

Out of focus — Alexandria, Va., February 2025

I took the photo at the top of this post earlier this week, just as the sun was rising. Our dog Penny had come upstairs, waking me with the sound of her toenails on the hardwood floor as she paced back and forth.

Always an early riser, my wife Jill usually is up before I am and off to her morning workout, often around sunrise. She traditionally takes the AM shift with Penny and our cat Sheldon, who starts meowing for breakfast at the first sight of light. Typically, I take them — yes, them; it’s a story for another day — on the last walk at night.

Recently, for some unknown reason, there’s been a slight shift in the morning shift.

Two or three mornings a week, Penny has started coming upstairs instead of going out with Jill. She paces around the room, waiting for me to take her out for the outdoor sniff and AM constitutional. Neither Jill nor I understand it.

While I typically don’t rouse easily, something about Penny’s presence and those tapping toenails wakes me every time. It takes me a minute to check the temperature outside — this has been a winter of multiple sets of layers — and get dressed. Penny goes to the other bedroom and hops on the bed, waiting patiently.

Earlier this week, still groggy, I looked outside and picked up my camera. I liked the sky against the bare tree that reaches past the rooftop of our two-bedroom townhouse. I took a shot unknowingly with the lens on manual focus, then walked into the other room, realized what I had done, and took one of Penny before going outside with her to brave the cold and wind.

Bonus photo: The patient Penny — February 2025

The out of focus picture is often how I feel when I first wake up. The dog’s patience is something I hope to have as the day progresses, along with her willingness to shake things up.

I hope you have a good weekend. Enjoy the rest of this edition of “Another 52 Weeks.”