when i get there in the morning lately he's laying at the end of the hall where he can see both the bedroom and the back door. sometimes he's not sure if i'm really there or if i'm me or a ghost and he stands and hangs back peering uncertain in the visual mist. but lately he gets up and barks and runs toward me, head lowered and tail swinging. i know the days when i can't go there he waits, he needs to see me. he's fine, waiting is a fine art with dogs, he still has his necessary routine, but he needs to see me like i need to see him. we're organized that way, when we're together everything is in place.