come here, puppy

Today, at our welcome-back departmental meeting, we all had to share a "tid-bit" about ourselves. The characters in our department {over 50 faculty and grad students together today} generally tell some pretty outrageous and funny tidbits, but right before I was about to share I realized I had a great one.

I started with my planned tidbit about how I don't really know why I like Don Draper and want him to be happy despite his transgressions {a Mad Men reference}, but then I shared my real tidbit which happened this morning.

So you know how you call a puppy or kitty cat to you? That weird clicking, tisking you do with your tongue on the roof of your mouth and the way you rub your thumb on your index finger in an almost silent snap -- well, at least that's how I call my parents' pup Annabelle.

I guess I've done that a few times in front of E because this morning while she was sitting in her chair she looked up at me, put her hand out with her palm up, and then starting opening and closing her fist while smacking her tongue and mouth.

She wanted me to come to her.

And my heart just smiled because I knew exactly what she was saying.

Never thought I'd like it if someone called me the way you would call a dog, but I loved it.

{ajb}