I like a late night walk. I sleep all the time, so if I get up for a walk (I'm always up for a walk!) its early for me, no matter what time the clock says.

We live in Brooklyn, in a row house near the park. If we all get up early enough on the weekends, a lot of the dogs are running off leash. You couldn't really call them a pack, since almost all the alphas have two legs and they can't be bothered to run. So alpha-for-a-moment is fluid. Mostly we run where our noses take us. Mostly, we don't get to the park, we love to sleep in too much.

But at Midnight, no one is on the street, there are few cars and I often go without the leash. In mid winter it's cold and still. Scents stay close to the ground. I LOVE the snow. Hot pee tunneling down through the snow mound scraped up to clear drive ways. It's a wonderful sound. And searching - the snow covers all kinds of secret, pungent things.

Even in the summer, if we go out late enough, it's cooler than it was during the day. I like the smell of fresh baked sidewalks. And there's no salt.

At Midnight I can go where I like. I can wander front yards, I can follow scents right up to strangers' doors. No one cares. No one knows. It's dark, I'm black. I'm invisible! I move like a shadow in a dream! Ok, except for the big white spot on my chest. And the jingle of my collar. Ok, Ok, and the click click of my claws on the concrete. Mostly invisible. Well, not too visible. Unless you're looking in my general direction.

The point is the late night is full of peaceful wonders. There is a quiet, welcoming darkness, a cool easy breeze, and a feeling of freedom. Try it. Come out and I'll show you.