Dog Breath and Coffee

What Gets You Up in the Morning?

Dog breath and coffee. There cannot be two more dichotomous smells in the entire universe, and yet both have the ability to spring me from my bed each morning. In fact, they often work in tandem.

Consider the scenario: the alarm clock rings and I reach for the snooze (and really, how many people do you know who actually get up on the first ring?). At eye level at the edge of the bed stands my faithful canine companion, exhaling the most noxious odor into my face. It’s a mixture of wet cardboard, stale drool and dirt. And not the loamy, fresh, outdoor, make-me-want-to-plant-something soil.

DIRT.

Dusty, ashes and clay, I-think-the-cat-buried-something-nasty-in-here dirt.

So, I’ve rolled over and am staring into the most soulful, loving eyes of my devoted pet while this fug of wet, stale nastiness washes over my face. Naturally, I pull the covers over my head and ride out the first snooze. But when the alarm rings again I receive a double-barreled shot of Doggie Death Breath accompanied by a slurp across the lips from a tongue with the reach and striking speed of a cobra.

What sane person wouldn’t bolt for the nearest coffee pot at this point? A dark, fragrant cup of Joe is the only effective palate cleanser after the morning’s ambush by man’s best friend.

So what gets you out of bed each morning? Do you have important reasons for arising and attacking a new day? Do you embrace the day, eager to be a better person, live a meaningful life, and serve the greater good? It is my profound prayer that you do.

Me – I just need coffee to combat a canine kiss.