Life Lesson

Posted on September 9, 2018 by

4 Comments

I reached over the chain link fence to pet the white dog and he leaped up and sunk his teeth into my left breast. I was fourteen.

It seemed then that I should hate white dogs forever. He was a big dog, a German Shepherd-looking dog, so maybe, so I thought, I should hate German Shepherds forever as well. Of all colors.

I am notorious for the holding of grudges but my commitment to hating all white dogs or all German Shepherds because of this breast-biting incident failed. However, I will no longer reach over a fence to pet a creature.

Category: Writing

4 Comments on “Life Lesson”

  1. My adult kid was recently bitten – by accident, we think – by a large sheperd we rescued. We agonized for several weeks/months about what to do with him but managed through. We didn’t want to rehome him knowing he was capable of biting but felt that we wouldn’t be able to handle him in the long run. He has become such an awesome pet and I’m glad we persevered. We are very careful with him in the yard and on walks, as we all should be with all dogs of any size. I always think they should all come with a label that says “Do not leave unattended”. I’ve been bitten by mini-daschunds and golden retrievers so there is no breed monopoly on biting. I’m glad to read it didn’t prevent you from filling your house with dogs.

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  3. Poor thing, he was just doing his job, he thought. Hope it wasn’t too painful. I’m glad you don’t hate all white dogs as a result of that one incident.

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Jan Wilberg

Jan Wilberg

What happens here on Red's Wrap is all over the map. There is no single theme, no overarching gripe, no malady of my own or others that dominates. I write about what seems important or interesting at the moment and what aims me toward hope. I write stories, essays, poems - whatever fits the day and the mood. Nothing stays the same, here or anywhere. That's a good thing. Happiness. It's relative.

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"The Power of Saying You're Sorry," Lives, Newsweek, 9-5-08
“Fury Cannot Touch Me,” Modern Love, NYT, 9/29/11

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