Solo Duo

This dog right here, he’s not a good alone dog. Thanks to 24/7 many, many people for many, many days (hello COVID) this one can’t stand more than a few hours alone. When we get home from somewhere, he follows me around the house, close enough to rest his head under my hand. If I close the bathroom door fast enough and he’s left in the hall, he immediately slumps to the floor, and a little gold tail fur fans out under the door.

This week, for the first time ever, I had SIX days all to myself. With the younger three all either on vacation with a friend or at scout camp (with dad), it’s been me and the pups at home this week. And I still have three days to go.

Mamas in the thick of a sweaty summer with littles who need so much of you, yes, it has been as mythical and glorious as you imagine, the highlight so far being multiple UNINTERRUPTED conversations with friends, and thoughts long enough to require commas. It has been calm, quiet, soothing and wonderful. But the best part is there’s a hole here, one big enough for an adult man I like to snuggle and three not-so-little-anymore littles.

As it turns out, I am not a good alone human. I talk to myself (or the pups) because there’s no one here to ignore me (or respond). So many seats remain empty around the kitchen table, so little noise fills the rooms. Beds have stayed made all week and in the morning there are no heads on pillows to kiss or have the dog attack.

When they get home on Saturday, I think I’ll follow them around with my head under their hands and sit outside the bathroom when they go.