Routines and Priorities

For my health, I have recently made some pretty major lifestyle changes. One repercussion is that I get up about an hour earlier than I used to, and there’s a bit more puttering around before I leave for the day. After several days of “Did I take my pills this morning?” and “Shoot, I left my lunch in the fridge!” I finally seem to be settling into this new routine.

Bob, resourceful dog that he is, has taken this opportunity to adjust his morning routine to align with HIS priorities. I had assumed that his top priority on waking was the same as every other mammal on the planet – to pee. So after “Mommy first!” my next step was to drag him out the back door. Then I’d delay getting in the shower until he started scratching, lest he inevitably do so the moment I got lathered up.

However, chow hound that he is, Bob’s top priority is actually breakfast. Then he jumps back on the bed for a snooze while I shower, undisturbed. Once wrapped in my warm robe and slippers, THEN I drag him out the back door while I putter.

“How is this possible?” I hear you cry. “How can a dog wait to go out first thing in the morning?” Well, it turns out that Bob has the bladder of a…a… Why don’t we have some animal colloquialism to comment on this particular bodily function? Like “Can drink like a camel” or “Lithe as a cat” or “Farts like a cow”? Well, Bob does indeed have prodigious storage space. I once had a day trip for work, leaving before 6 am and not returning until after 9 pm. I’d made arrangements for someone to take him out late afternoon, but for a variety of reasons that didn’t happen. After 15+ hours, I arrived home to find Bob contentedly curled up on the bed. None of my senses detected any indication of an accident. Sure, when I finally did take him out, he really went at it. But I remain amazed that he held it that long.

Well, maybe this will be Bob’s legacy – “Has a bladder like Bob.”

I reflect that many of these posts comment on Bob’s habits of elimination. But isn’t that sorta true of all parents of toddlers (which Bob is and always will be)?

The point is – Bob’s unique gift gives him the freedom to rearrange his routine according to his priorities. While I may bemoan the things I don’t have, I can remember that what I DO have allows me that same freedom to rearrange my routine and to live according to my priorities.

Good Lesson. Thanks Bob.

p.s. Happy Thanksgiving from Bob and Bob's Mom!