You Can't Sit There

Most people get new furniture and make up all kinds of new rules. The pets in the house, maybe even the kids, wind up circulating the Northern Hemisphere if that's what they have to do to get from their bed to the kitchen without getting the hairy eyeball.

It's not the same with us. We didn't really make the decision, it seems simply preordained. We have a brand new couch and a very old golden retriever, and he is absolutely exhausted. You can't kick this guy off the couch. Look at him. He's so tired.

He needs to be on the couch.

And he needs a good long day of rest, particularly if he's had a good night's sleep. He gets really good rest on that couch. Just think for a second how satisfied you feel when you wake up from a nap and find drool on your pillow.

Sometimes I think even our other pets marvel at his state of exuberant rest. I don't think that exact phrase leaps unbidden to their minds but the other dogs come bounding back into the living room from a short bathroom break like they haven't seen us in 20 years. Suddenly they see him on the couch, snoring away, and they stop in their tracks and turn to stare for a second. We also have a cat that periodically walks up to him, takes in a profound sniff, and then adoringly taps him with her paw.

Sleeping is probably one of the most underrated, unappreciated activities that exists and he's a powerful reminder, don't you think?

I definitely prefer him to the couch.