Gypsy
Written 2-28-96
Gypsy is an Airedale Terrier, weighs 65-70 pounds, and lives in Duluth, Minnesota. Her mistress is Margaret Larson, who lives alone and enjoys her company. Gypsy is definitely the "boss" in this house.
Margaret, who is my daughter-in-law's mother, lives in a unique old two-story home located on 10 acres of land, right out of Duluth. This home was originally a company house, built by a mining company many years ago. It is a beautiful place with many huge pine trees growing close to the house, -just the kind of place Gypsy enjoys.
I like it too. I have been invited to spend Christmas there the last 4-5 years and have always looked forward to going. However, there is only one drawback, and that is Gypsy. She doesn't like me, and as a result, I don't like her!
Gypsy is very possessive of her domain and she looks on me as an intruder into her territory. She is very protective of Margaret and puts her "bossiness" in action all the while I am there. I am naturally afraid of dogs, -any dogs, and this dog evidently can sense that. When I try to ignore her, she comes and jumps on me, nips at me and growls.
One day I was knitting, not aware that I was bothering her. She was sleeping by the door quite a distance from me. I usually keep a watchful eye on her, but this time I didn't think she'd be bothering me, as I was not moving around. I was pretty sure that I was safe. When I accidentally dropped a knitting needle and bent down to pick it up, she came lunging at me and growling, scaring me half to death. Another time I was just walking to the table to eat lunch with four other people around me when she suddenly jumped up on me with all of her 70 pounds, growled and nipped at my arm, almost knocking me over.
Another time I was straightening things on the coffee table. Evidently thinking the coffee table was none of my business, she came lunging at me growling again. When I come downstairs in the morning, I always carry something ahead of me so she can't attack me. All the while I am there, I am on pins and needles. Because of me she often gets stuck in the basement or tied outside by her doghouse, while other times she is free to roam in the house.
This past Christmas, 1995, I was again invited to spend the Christmas holidays in Duluth with Ruth and Dennis, but due to circumstances, I was unable to go. However, to make things more relaxing for me, Margaret was planning to put Gypsy in the kennel during these days. I'll bet Gypsy was glad I didn't come!
Now Gypsy is old and is losing her eyesight. She is probably more cantankerous than ever. Time will tell what will happen by next Christmas, 1996.