Breathe In (Just Breathe, #1)(2)
While Sadie eats, I mix and gulp down my morning routine of water with bentonite clay. There’s nothing like cleansing the body before a yummy organic smoothie followed by a vigorous workout. To most, I’m a health nut. My two best friends tease me sometimes at how strict I am with my eating habits. I love food, don’t get me wrong, but I love good food and I only eat the best.
I relieve myself before taking Sadie out. She follows me to the bathroom with her leash in tow as if that speeds up the process. Sadie doesn’t really need the leash, it’s more for the community. The apartment complex likes dogs. They allow pets in the buildings, but because others can’t train their own animals properly, which caused an incident, all pets have to be leashed. Even if this rule wasn’t in place, most of my neighbors would freak out if they didn’t see Sadie on a leash. For starters, I’m a very quiet and private person. They don’t know me and my ability to control Sadie. Second, Sadie is a pure breed pit bull. Her breed has a bad wrap for being vicious; a result due to the lack of competent owners only.
Once outside our gated apartment community, the cool winter air nips at my fingers as I unhook Sadie’s leash. She stays close to my heels on my right side as we walk to the corner before crossing the street in front of the park. Sadie is trotting with excitement, but remains reserved. It’s a part of her demeanor. She’s a playful, loving, yet protective three-year-old. I wouldn’t have her any other way.
On the edge of the grass, Sadie waits for my command to run. She would never run or leave my side in public unless I give her the signal. I sign for her to go and she takes off to the closest tree to relieve herself. She stays nearby sniffing, watching and waiting for me as I clean up after her. It’s too early for the kids to be out playing on the jungle gym, so Sadie is left to playing catch with her favorite natural rubber ball until she tires.
Even in late winter, California is still beautiful and nowhere near as cold as the East Coast. I don’t miss the gloomy Spring and Autumn days, cold, bitter Winters or humid Summers. California is home now and has been since I was sixteen. I love how quiet Pasadena is at four o’clock in the morning.
After a long morning exercise session for Sadie, I’m back in my two bedroom apartment with Sadie sitting on the kitchen floor watching me prepare my smoothie, hoping that I might drop something as she gnaws on her naturally harvested deer antler. Her head bounces between my hands and the floor. She wouldn’t go after food even if it did drop. Sadie would just wait patiently until I told her to eat it. She’s too cute. As I drink my breakfast, a smoothie consisting of banana, strawberries, blueberries, mango, coconut milk, turmeric, cinnamon, and a raw egg, I plop myself down in front of my computer to check emails as Sadie lays at my feet. I love working from home. It makes things so much easier. No LA traffic. No distractions. Well, no distractions other than Sadie, but she’s always a welcome distraction. Once I finish checking my emails, I start my workout music playlist and then clean out my cup. Time to stretch and rebound.
I work out longer than usual. Ok, it’s not unusual on the days I wake up like I did today, but it’s not as common as it used to be. Finally physically drained after about an hour, I stretch again. Sadie decides she needs some attention and lays across my right leg within a few seconds of me getting on the floor. Her full weight is on me and I can’t help but laugh.
Reluctant to check the time, I roll my eyes when I find out that it is still very early. Well, not too early for me, but early for most people, including my best friend Jared. I don’t think Jared has ever been up this early in the morning, ever, unless he’s been up all night and never went to sleep. I decide to text Jared a happy good morning sunshine before hopping into the shower.
By the time Jared calls, I’ve completely showered, dressed, ate a raw organic yogurt and granola with blackberries and figs, played with Sadie for about fifteen minutes, made my to-do list for the next two weeks, responded to inquiries for my business, Naturally Me, started writing outlines for three months worth of blog and video topics, and plotted out what I’d like to see in our social media marketing campaigns that will be used after the already planned and almost completed next quarter.
Before I can even mutter a hello, Jared immediately questions, “Had the dream again?”
Trying to deny it, I reply, “Uh, good morning to you too.”
I know he knows. It’s obvious with how early I texted.
“It’s been a while since the last one,” Jared says with concern in his voice. “You okay, Kitten?”
Unable to avoid the subject, I reply, “Yeah.”
“I’m on my way over to get started on all the stuff you’ve drafted,” Jared replies, knowing my habits. “You know I don’t get up this early for anyone else — unless he’s naked and in my bed.”
“Yes, I know. And, that’s why I love you,” I profess, trying to butter him up before he sees the mountain of work I’ve done and have planned.
“Yeah, yeah. I love you too,” he says warmly. “Do you need me to pick up anything?”
“Nope.”
“Okay. I’ll be there soon. Smooches.”
He’s perky now. That’s a good sign for it being almost six-fifty in the morning.
“Smooches,” I reply with a smile on my face.
Knowing that Jared’s on his way, I decide to stop and take a break for a bit. Sadie joins me on the couch to snuggle, laying completely on my body with her head tucked just under my jaw.