Anne McKee

Could you hear me? I let out a howl just now that traveled three counties. Go ahead and try it.

Now don’t you feel better?

You know for example when that BMW beat you to the good parking place. Howl. Or the power bill hits $500. Howl. Even when the IRS sends a certified letter — howl, big time then.

Yes, howling is good for the soul. Let’s off steam, lowers blood pressure and perhaps will bring about a little skinniness to your life, maybe.

And howling isn’t just a sign of distress. Howl when the power bill is less than $200, you know, good stuff is appropriate for a deep, throaty howl as well. Why recently I howled when ground chuck went down to $3.99 per pound. Yes I did, right there in the middle of Winn Dixie. Folks did look my way sort of dazed like, but just to keep their attention, I howled again.

I mean ground chuck at $3.99 per pound is something to howl about. Nope, I am not ashamed and thus began a hamburger steak jamboree, (plus grilled burgers and a spaghetti free-for-all) at the McKee ranch. Right now Hubs is a little too much beef-filled, but still $3.99 per pound!

Yep, I feel a howl coming on now.

Now you might wonder how I came about my howling expertise. Well, I had an expert teacher. Her name is KayKay and she has a curly tail.

Now the curly tail is not always a requirement but good throaty, sounding vocal cords are a must. Nope, not just a sweet, charming voice will do – must have an authoritative tinge, the kind that upon hearing would make folks snap their heads.

I have found to truly hit the high, most aggravating notes, required to reach an unforgettable howl, one must learn at the knee of a Master Howler and KayKay has all of the credentials. Although sitting at her knee is a little difficult since she is only ten pounds, soaking wet, and two hands tall, yet she maintains a howling expertise like no other.

KayKay entered my world as a rescue pup in July, 2017. We think she is a Malti-poo however I am certain there is some hound blood somewhere. I am thinking without the hound dog blood there is no way KayKay could ever hit those perfect howl-type notes.

And my little pup’s technique is one for the record books. Oh my, how she throws that little head back and her little mouth forms a perfect oval – well, that is impressive, but it is when the howl emerges, ah, perfection and unforgettable.

So this morning KayKay and I were howling. You see I was taking a bubble bath and KayKay was perched on top of the toilet, when the mood struck and so we let it rip. Hubs stuck his head through the bathroom door with a quizzical look but then he sighed and walked out. He’s used to it.

I am not sure if KayKay and I will need another howling session today, maybe? That is the magic of it all. One never knows but, when the time is right, KayKay and I will know and out will come the most amazing sounds. We sort of harmonize, KayKay and me. If you have never had a howling buddy, then there is no way to explain the ecstasy of it all. Sigh.

I will never become the expert howler as my KayKay, but I work on it every day. You know if I really think on it, I can come up with at least two good reasons to howl each 24/7, but I have a little more work to do on the curly tail.

Yes, howling is good for the soul.

Anne McKee is a Mississippi historian, writer and storyteller.