I spent a delightful evening in Atlanta with my good friend and publicist, Lisa Matheson. I drove the winding back roads from Carrollton to the big city and miraculously found her charming home without having to make a single U-Turn…. Thank you Mapquest!
I could hear dogs barking as we chatted in her turn of the century parlor. Lisa had closed her pets up in the bedroom so that I wouldn’t be overwhelmed on arrival. I told her that I would love to meet them and so, she opened the door. Two huge black dogs trotted in to the room. One was a large black lab, my favorite breed. Wagner ran straight to me and covered me with slurpy dog kisses. He’s the type of dog that never meets a stranger. Lisa had rescued him from the pound and Wagner was forever grateful.
Sophie did not approach me, but stood in the doorway and growled that low guttural sound that would put any postman or delivery person on edge. I asked Lisa what kind of dog she was. Lisa gave me a list of possible combinations: Labrador, German Shepherd, Collie, etc; I nodded like I believed her, but I watch Game of Thrones and Outlander and I know a wolf when I see and hear one.
Sophie finally stopped growling and hopped up on the couch opposite from me. She never took her eyes off of of mine, and as long as I didn’t move or blink, she quit snarling. Wagner stayed by my side and continued nuzzling and slurping and looking at me with big droopy love filled eyes. I soon learned that if I moved, two things would happen. Wagner would lose control and jump all over me and Sophie would return to threatening growls.
Lisa and I left them behind and drove to Laurenceville to see a wonderful production of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” at the Aurora Theatre. The set, the costumes, the cast, the direction was simply fantastic. It was all I could do to keep Lisa seated and quiet as she desperately wanted to sing all the songs with the cast. And sadly, Lisa cannot sing. Like Wagner, Lisa sometimes has impulse control issues. So at intermission I bought her some peanut M&Ms and that seemed to help. We had dinner after the show and returned to Lisa’s for a repeat of dog personality escapades.
As we chatted in the parlor, Sophie moved about a foot away from me on the sofa. Lisa was very surprised by this and said, “This is huge! She doesn’t get close to anyone, except my mom.” I was relieved that Sophie seemed to be warming up to me, but I didn’t dare try to pet her. I remained calm but wary. Wagner of course, was all over me. Lisa and I worked on the website for “Dear Crabigail,” my third novel that is currently in progress. Sophie curled up under the desk and Wagner . . . well Wagner, continued his nuzzling and loving and licking.
At midnight, we went to bed. Lisa took the dogs to her room and closed them in. I settled in on the sofa with a blanket, a sheet, and a brand new pillow Lisa had bought for the occasion. I turned the TV low to Forensic Files because the narrator’s voice lulls me to sleep. And as usual, that worked and I drifted off into a gentle relaxing slumber.
Around 3am, I groggily became aware of warm, misty breath on my face. Disoriented, I opened my eyes and saw a shape in the dark. I must have moved or made a noise because I heard that familiar deep growl, inches from my face. I thought to myself, “Dear Lord on your Heavenly golden pillow up above, please do not let this dog eat my face. And then, thankfully, Wagner came to the rescue, nudging Sophie away, and licked me right in the mouth and nose. For once, I didn’t mind. Wagner settled in front of me blocking Sophie and I surprisingly, went back to sleep.
Before I left for home the next morning, Lisa and I enjoyed a sausage and biscuit and cantaloupe for breakfast. She told me some story about her cat scratching at her door in the night and I’m assuming that has something to do with how the dogs got loose. I assured Lisa that I had slept well. Daylight must have made me braver. I offered Sophie a piece of my biscuit and she ate it right out of my hand. And!!!! She allowed me to pet the top of her head. Huge!!!! I think we might be best friends now and I can’t wait to go back for another visit.