"Here she comes!"
The lyrics float up the staircase and swirl into my sleepy
mind.
A second or two is all I have to pull the blankets up to my
neck
And make sure the bedspread is stretched out tight into all
the corners.
Whew! she smells like a wet dog.
She’s been running in the field, wet with early morning dew.
She begins her day with such happiness.
First she wakes up Daddy with a few well-placed kisses in
his ear.
The she crawls in next to him and rolls onto her back.
All four feet in the air, presenting her tummy to be rubbed.
Daddy wakes up happy too, as eager as Ailee to face the new
day.
He puts on his Carharts and his tall rubber boots.
They stand together on the front steps,
surveying the meadow.
Then they descend, Man and Dog, into the cool morning air.
The path is worn, leading catty-corner to our fence.
A quick duck under the barb wire, and into the hay field.
We are so lucky that our neighbor welcomes us,
A deal made with a handshake. No contracts, just trust.
It’s Ailee’s moment of pure freedom.
She is off the leash, even though Dad has trepidations.
The same field every day, yet no two days alike.
Chipmunks and voles, woodpeckers and magpies.
A fox, usually far away, taunting Ailee to give chase.
No doubt the race would end in Wyoming.
The morning stroll ends at a golden pond, rimmed with
willows.
Random boulders invite Daddy to have a seat and enjoy the
stillness.
A duck, hidden in the reeds, quietly glides out into the
pond.
Most days, Ailee’s busy “logging” downed willow
branches.
She doesn’t even see the duck, sometimes a pair.
When she does, she runs frantically to the side of the pond
closest to them.
They glide gently away, out of her reach.
It’s a game. Ailee wins if the ducks take flight, usually
circling back and landing.
Ailee loses when the ducks ignore her, swimming gently in
circles, out of reach.
Of course she could jump in; we know she can swim.
But she prefers clear, running water for swimming and for
drinking.
Bored easily, she and Daddy move on, searching for the next
adventure.
Will it be a bicyclists, flying down the country road on an
early morning ride?
Danger! Ailee has no time for these two-wheeled strangers.
Or will it prehistoric beauties descending on loudly
flapping wings,
Landing on their stick legs amid disharmonious chatter?
The Greater Sandhill Cranes are here!
Strutting awkwardly, holding heads like the royalty they
are.
Revered in this valley since before white men came here.
Our neighbor fears that Ailee will disturb them.
But Ailee stands still at Daddy’s side, captivated by this
ancient bird.
Time to go home and wake up Mommy.
She’ll be so happy to hear about all our great adventures!
‘Here she comes!”
Leaping onto my tummy, her ghost tail wagging with delight.
Smothering me with kisses, wet dog perfume blanketing the
air.
Get up! Come Play! You won’t want to miss a minute of this
glorious day.
