I Write The Songs

Did you see the Feb. 14 episode of "Boston Legal"? I saw it while in my D.C. hotel room. Here I was within blocks of the U.S. Capitol, watching television, reviewing documents, and thinking about how much our pets love us.

The comments made by Denny's future wife about her Barry Manilow were classic. I paraphrase: "Spouses may come and go and along with them the various friends, but not Barry Manilow. He's there for me no matter what." By the way, Barry Manilow is her cat.

It was 62 degrees when I left D.C. After a short hop to Charlotte, the three-hour flight to KC felt like days. We landed close to 10 p.m. I was cranky and tired, and was greeted with a temperature of 12 degrees. My car was even covered in ice.

While sitting there warming the car and melting the ice, my thoughts wandered to the time Ep and I endured an ice storm back in January 2002. We had no power in our home for four nights. It was brutal cold. The first night we just piled about 10 blankets on the bed and cuddled. We soon wimped out and luckily were able to board at pet friendly Motel 6. I wonder how many Cowboys show up at a motel with a cat, coffee pot and litter box.

My monster spent the next few nights smelling the hotel door, listening to the sounds of people walking outside, and jumping up as she heard dogs barking in nearby rooms. We were comfortable lying on the bed, watching tv, and turning up the heater so that our room was extra toasty.

My window was frozen and wouldn't roll down as I attempted to pay the parking cashier. The windshield was clear of ice, though, for the 13-mile trek home. I shivered most of the way. Missed her welcoming as I walked in the door. I admit that I cried. Then quickly warmed my soul with thoughts of how she loved my arrivals, getting a treat or moist food and then helping me unpack. Our routine was to immediately throw the bags on the bed and unpack everything. Every receipt, coin, postcard, dirty sock, paper and all else would be lying on the bed. She'd nose through it all and help me tons.

I am glad for the song she wrote on my heart.