6 AM

The mourning doves wake up first and let out a few choruses of plaintive hooting. This alerts the sparrows to rejoice at waking anew with a cheery round of "cheepity-cheep". At six the bells at Immaculate Conception ring the hour. Soon thereafter my Beloved harumphs onto his back and begins a soft whirring snore. Princess fluffs up onto the bedside with a "Hmm?" and tries to stare me awake with googley eyes. When this fails she starts her bath. Finally comes the immortal voice of the PAT bus stopping at the corner and urgently pronouncing "downtown." It is time to get up.

Daily Life