It was like a winning clip from America’s Funniest Home Videos: a friend of mine came to visit and Lally ran up to say hello. Unfortunately, she tends to say hello by jumping up and boxing the people who come to the door — she is half boxer, after all.
As it happens, she happened to tag him in a very sensitive area, if you get my drift. He doubled over in pain; I doubled over in laughter.
I’ve had my share of accidental greeting injuries. Lally’s boxing has left me with scratches up and down my arms and legs in the past. She’s even stepped on my foot once and left a cut on my big toe.
Moose isn’t as jumpy in his greetings but I have gotten more than one accidental headbutt from him. It’s a matter of timing — he lifts his head up just as I bend down to pet him and WHAM! I’ve been clonked in the chin and bonked on the forehead more than once. He’s also forceful enough about getting petted that he’ll push me right over.
Since I’m heading home to New Jersey for a weekend visit, I’m expecting a serious greeting frenzy from my parents’ dog Becca and my brother’s two pit bulls. Becca’s frenzy mostly includes barking. Lily and Kuma are fare more forceful in their welcome — they’re the kind of big dogs that think they are little lap dogs. Lily is another jumper. I can’t count the times she’s jumped up just as I bent down. Her big concrete block head has split my lip more than once. Kuma will take a flying leap into my lap as soon as I sit down; she’s left bruises on my legs more than a few times.
And I love every minute of it. I miss those dogs as much as I miss my family; they ARE my family.