I had a very ugly experience this afternoon on the Coastal Trail. Clemmie and I were out on our Noon walk. We had pulled way off to the side to allow a father and his very small son to pass by on bicycles. They also had a large German Shepard Huskey mix that was off leash. Can you guess where this story is headed?
As soon as their dog spotted Clemmie, it took off straight towards us, teeth bared and snarling. I yelled at the owner to call his dog. The guy just laughed. The dog and Clem got into it - and poor Clem was still on leash - a huge disadvantage in a dog fight. I yelled again at the owner and at the dog - all the while Clemmie was pulling me right over. Not a very wise post operative activity, I might add.
The guy's dog separated fairly quickly from Clem - I'm not sure what caused the dog to break off. The guy certainly never called the dog off.
So, then the guy looks at me, sneers, and says, "Don't you think you over reacted?".
Well I came unglued and said "Goddammit, your dog was off leash and attacked my dog."
The guy of course responded with everyone's favorite erudite put down, "Fuck you."
I, not to be out done, volleyed the "Fuck you" back and added the killer remark that his dog was off leash.
Then it really started to get nasty. He was riding away, but yelled back that his dog would rip my dog to shreds. And then he made some sort of threating gesture towards me. Well, I was just livid - I didn't want a bully to get in the last word, so I yelled at him "Come on back. Bring it on."
Fortunately for me, he kept on riding. Although he did stop, grab his dog in an attempt to sic him on us. Actually, I think that was just a theatrical gesture.
We kept walking as they rode off. I didn't want to be intimidated into turning around. A woman runner who had been behind us and had witnessed the whole thing ran up beside me and asked if we were o.k. I told we were fine and then she said the guy was a real jerk. Well I had been ridiculously brave up to that point. But, after woman ran on, I just broke down and started crying.
Clemmie and I did manage to finish our walk, but when we got home I was still very upset. It took me awhile to become functional again. Fortunately, my good friend Peg Mentele was home and came right over. She seriously offered to bring the construction guys working on her house remodel with her and we would all hunt the guy down. It was an appealing offer. But I reluctantly turned it down.
So why did I do something supremely stupid by getting into a fight with a bully who could probably beat the shit out of me and hurt my dog. Well there are five reasons:
- I swore a long time ago that I would never again be bullied or abused. I just couldn't let this asshole get away with it.
- I was so angry that I had no fear. I'm like a mother bear protecting cubs when it comes to protecting Clemmie.
- I've been watching waaaaay too much Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Now, I have this stupid idea that I am Buffy. Far from it - I do not have super strength, I am not a martial arts master, and I did not have wooden stake with me this afternoon.
- I've been listening to waaaaay too much rap. I think I'm a tough guy because I can talk the lingo and am not intimidated by someone who does talk the lingo.
- PMS.
What was most appalling, was that all of this was in front of his little boy, which just makes me sick. This is how bullying and abusive behavoir gets passed on from one generation to the next.
10:01:47 PM 
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Feeding the chipper.
Those are some scary teeth.
Now here's a blower on steroids...
Look who was grazing on the birch tree in front of the parking garage this morning!
Now, those are lips and a schnozz that only a mother could love!