When you have depression, getting out of bed can be a real chore. You just don’t want to move. I know for me, my bed is my safe place away from the world. I used to “hide” in my safe place a lot, but now I do actually look forward to getting out of bed in the morning. This is because I love my mornings with Andy.

It starts with a nuzzle and a purr, or a soft paw on my cheek and a soft meow, or a “hop on mom” with him landing in the middle of my back, jolting me awake. These are just some of the ways that my fur-baby, Andy, wakes me up in the morning.

He then proceeds to get impatient until I am out of the bed. I head to the bathroom and he runs like a rocket to the kitchen. I giggle quietly, knowing that he will wonder why his human isn’t in the kitchen also. He then joins me in the bathroom and proceeds to “play” in the tub. We call it his skate park. He will chase his tail and make me laugh. Sometimes he chases my hand through shower curtain, or he plays with his rope.

Afterwards, we head to the kitchen together, Andy making sure he doesn’t lose me this time. I feed him and get him fresh water and make myself some coffee. I take my coffee and go sit on the couch and read my scriptures and then watch the morning news. By this time, Andy is done eating and decides that it is time for attention and he crawls up on my shoulder and starts to purr.

Of course, I must stop what I am doing and snuggle and pet him. I usually end up leaning my head back and closing my eyes and just enjoy the rhythm of his purring. He can easily put me to sleep with his “purr therapy”, and we have been known to nap by accident. Andy makes is easy to get up in the morning and I look forward to that time with him. Mornings with Andy are the best way to start the day.