Waking up next to Joe this morning at 6:00 am, I mentioned that I got to see Amy and Chris’ dogs and how funny and strange they are, and any mention of animals throws us into a variation on a conversation we (oddly) often have:

ME: I miss the cats - right now they would see we are awake and Manzie would walk up onto me and sit on me.  Walk walk walk.

JOE: I would rather be a dog than a cat, because cats are always worried and dogs just have to do one thing and they’re happy.

ME: …

JOE: (rolling over in bed with eyes still closed, smiling) All you have to do is love your owner and if you had a great owner, then it’s nice, and that’s it, that’s all you have to do, love them. And then you’re happy.

ME: Yeah, cuz that’s his job.

JOE: (still sleepily smiling) No, it’s not a job, it’s his soul.

ME: (pause) I want a job that’s my soul.  Like a dog.