Bit By A Dog To Start The New Year!

Day one of 2024 was gripping!

New Years Day, 2024.

I’m heading to visit my former neighbor before going to my dad’s for a two week stay.

As we did for many years, we take a brisk walk on our old route, pacing a thirteen minute mile!

Yup, we still got it!

Back at her house, she disappears into the kitchen to get us some water.

I turn right to the powder room down the hall.

A few minutes later, I walk back towards her kitchen, passing by the family room.

I make eye contact with a big brown dog lying under a table, but keep moving.

Suddenly, it rises, offers a low growl and bites me in the leg!

“Oooooow!” I whine, “The dog just bit me!”

My friend reappears in the doorway, glass of water in her hand, and a look of horror on her face. I know she feels terrible.

“Oh, I’m so sorry! He’s never done that before!” she exclaims.

I yank my tights down so her veterinarian daughter can take a look my smarting right thigh.

“Is it bleeding?” I ask. I wonder if the skin is pierced from the dog’s teeth.

My thoughts race.

I assume all their pups are current with rabies shots, but I don’t ask. They already feel bad enough.

I’m told the bite isn’t bleeding, but there are some red marks.

Good enough. I’ll tend to it later.

We take our water outside, and sit on the front steps.

I welcome the icy sensation from the stone stoop, it seeps through my thin leggings, numbing my throbbing thigh.

With a short time left to visit, I shift the conversation to how she’s coping since her husband died suddenly, three months ago.

He was only sixty-seven.

She tells me the kids have been wonderful. They were all together for Christmas, including her two young grandsons from Colorado.

This makes her smile. But I sense the sadness deep within.

She adds, “Work keeps me busy and that helps.”

My friend is a civil engineer for one of the world’s largest construction consulting firms, Hill International.

I’ve admired her strength and stamina for thirty-seven years. Her grit and determination have served her well.

I’m certain she will persevere despite her great loss.

We make plans to walk again in a couple weeks, when my caregiver turn with Dad is done.

It’s an hours drive to my dad’s retirement community.

I’m tempted to start eating the chocolate chip cookies my friend’s son made today. They’re still warm.

He also gave me four bottles of his homemade kombucha.

Life is good.

However, I’m curious about the painful bite.

I pull into the Wawa convenience store on Route 313. As usual, it’s bustling.

Inside the bathroom stall I use the phone camera to take a look.

Yikes! It’s as sore as it looks!

I clean the cuts with soap and water, and fold a paper towel for a temporary bandage.

Back in the car, with a hot coffee and a pack of cream filled chocolate Tastykakes, I settle down and drive on to my father’s place.

Welcome to 2024!

© 2024 Bernadette E Wallace