When I rolled over and looked at the clock it was 5:27AM, three minutes before the alarm would sound. I silently turned it off and slid my legs out from under the covers and let them drop to the floor. There was just enough natural light to navigate out of the room and into the kitchen. After walking past the island and the sink, I turned on the coffee pot. I had filled it with water and coffee last night before I went to bed. Then I sat down in the third bathroom to take care of business.
The window was open and the cool morning air was flowing in. My right nostril felt plugged up. The kids had recently had it. Afterward, I went back to the master bath and had my standard three minute shower (I have a buzz cut, so there isn’t a lot of shampooing). I dressed, and upon exiting the bedroom, I quietly told my wife that I loved her.
I filled my travelling coffee mug, found some breakfast and lunch, grabbed my bag, put on my boots and walked out into the cool mountain morning just before six. It was then, just after starting the truck, that I caught myself saying it, “just keep going dude, just keep going.” I had only taken a few drinks of the coffee and I wasn’t fully awake yet. I had had a few beers last night watching the game. Man, how about that Fisher. I really liked his emotions after the game. So anyway, I put the truck in gear and started coasting down the hill.