I'm not very good at taking naps, even when I'm tired or sick, even when I "should." But Jake is a napping genius, brilliant at the art. Sometimes he curls up and doesn't move for hours, except to rise periodically, turn several times in a clockwise direction, sigh audibly, glance around, then curl up for another bout.
Jake is an incredible dreamer, too. His eyelids flutter, his feet kick and he even tries to bark. His dream bark sounds like a car that can't quite start when you turn the key in the ignition. It's so funny. Sometimes he wakes up suddenly, startled. I wonder what he's dreaming about? I wonder if he can fly in dreams, as I did in my dream last night (on the back of a swan, I kid you not). Maybe he dreams of hunting, frolicking with other dogs, chasing cats. Who knows? Sometimes I imagine that he's taking shamanic journeys in order to do some canine soul retrieval or some such.
If Jake could teach stressed out, insomniac humans how to just let go and sleep, he could be a zillionare. When I ask him how he does it, he looks at me so intensely, but of course he's limited in terms of language. He has never yet found a way to articulate his skill. How sad. Oh well.
14 comments:
pretty dog. They look so innocent when asleep...
Middle and upper class dogs in this country are so lucky not to ever be hungry or cold. It gives them many hours to nap. They are indeed the privileged in the dog world. I think my Jake sleeps about 85% of the time.
Aw... your post reminded me so much of my dogs. They're so funny when they dream - especially when they're having a dream and they're running :-)
You dreamed you flew on the back of a swan?! That is an awesome dream, Reya! Wow!
oh yes, thats a class i'd sign up for. like a shot.
YES, a swan! Seems quite auspicious. The swan was taking off, so I jumped on its back, "side-saddle" style. My sister Hannah was on the other side of the swan. I grabbed her arm - she never made it up onto the back of the swan, but I held tight. It was a little bit nervewracking, but also exhiliating. What a dream!
Okay, so now I can expect to have Marc Bolan's "Ride A White Swan" in my head for the next 72 hours.
[audible sigh]
....well, it could be so much worse, I suppose...
My cat is the same way. Constant sleeping. I don't know how she does it -- when I sleep too much I actually feel WORSE. I'm all for getting out and moving around!
I sleep a good deal. I have this big thing called a sofa (it is a scratching post and a bed) My humans could use a lot more sleep, though.
I got mistaken for Dennis again today. How sad.
Do Jake-oids dream of electric squirrels?
Hammer, I almost used that quote ... well, the original one, but I resisted. I see you were not able to, and for that, I salute you!
awww ,,, Jakey looks so sweet snoozing away. If only I had that ability. I can't nap worth you-know-what. You're right, you could make a fortune marketing Jake-Sleep.
I will have to look up that dream image --what a great dream, anyway --hang on tight. How does the sister no hanging on figure in, I wonder?
dreams are amazing.
I can hardly believe it is almost five years since we said goodbye to our Penny. I so miss not having a dog to pet and share life with. She slept a lot too in her end days and also uttered the same kind of dreamy-bark noise.
I am like Jake. I can nap anytime, anywhere. The problem is I don't generally get time to do it. Except on Sunday afternoons, after church. I love Sundays for this reason.
The image of you riding a swan side saddle reminds me of the cover of a Mother Goose book I once had. Could Reya Goose (swan) be in the works?
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