Family routines...and such...

I know that every family has their routines...their rhythm (or, as my Polish design teacher in college would mispronounce, "rhyth-muh"). Also, that was a design teacher who happened to be Polish, I did not take a class in Polish design....There are the cycles, the activities that become automatic and can be completed with little to no thought. Today, I took part in Murphy's favorite one.

1. Step 1-someone goes to let Murphy out of the back yard. There is no door directly leading to the back yard in our lovely house (one of my only drawbacks), so the privacy fence is opened and whomever is supervising the transition tries to make a grab for Murphy's collar as he comes bounding (BOUNDING) out of the gate.

2. Step 2-take the gamble. Will Muph follow his foster brother Chee-chee (we don't get to name them...) into the house? Lately, he has been deceptively obedient in this area.

3. Step 3-in the event that he makes a break for it, walk nonchalantly inside, dig car keys from some distant purse-cavern. Walk with ease of mind and slowness of step to the van.

4. Step 4-check all mirrors, back out of the driveway. Say a thankful prayer that we moved last month to this much less busy street.

5. Step 5-drive slowly to the end of the block. Timing is everything, if you drive too fast, Murphy might not be done taking his huge dump/leaving his huge gift on the corner house's lawn. Reach over and fling open the passenger door and call to Murphy as if you're getting ready to leave on the most exciting trip to the nearest McDonalds (McDouble, plain and no cheese).

6. Step 6-Hold Murphy's collar (of course he jumps into the van without issue), since you didn't bring the leash, steer with the other hand, say a prayer of thanks for no traffic, and drive .75 of a block backwards with your passenger door wide open.

7. Step 7-pull into driveway, your teammate tags in with the leash and closing the passenger door. Return to house, start again.