Is It Just Me?
Join Wimberley humorist Susan Rigby as she attempts to navigate “the small stuff.”
I have a 13-year-old chihuahua named Rosie. She has been a pretty easy dog, except for not liking most men. She usually does not like them for the specific reason that they are men. We are trying to deal with that.
Rosie now has three siblings and appears to be keeping her eye on their behaviors. She has learned to stretch when she gets up, which is good for her old bones and muscles. She has also learned to bark when the other dogs bark. She usually doesn’t know what she is barking at and is often looking in the wrong direction, but she loves being a part of the mayhem.
Rosie has also decided that if one or more of the other dogs don’t eat their dinner, she probably shouldn’t either, even though it used to be her favorite food. Annie, my slightly chubby dog will eat anything, including paper. I found Rosie on the sofa, happily chomping on an old napkin, but of course, not eating her dinner. Thanks, Annie for teaching Rosie this new trick!
From her brother, she has learned to annoy me when I am on the phone. He brings me his toy and drops it over and over at my feet when I am talking. Rosie doesn’t have many teeth left, so instead of bringing a toy, she sits beside me and continuously taps me with her paw. How could I pay more attention to a little electronic device than to her?
And from her sister, Baby, who is almost as old as she is and a great jumper, Rosie tries to jump on my lap when we are outside and should be doing her business.
I like that an old dog can learn new tricks, even if some aren’t my favorite new behaviors. Rosie was usually calm, liked to sleep beside me, and used to eat what she was given. I guess she saw that her life wasn’t as much fun as theirs. The one thing I wish they taught her was that most men are ok.
