The Lighthouse Walk

I missed walking so much! It’s like I was in the desert and I was so thirsty I couldn’t stop drinking the water. It feels so good to get out there and walk. Even before Hardy I was a walker. It was one of the reasons I decided to get a dog. I thought if I was going out there for a daily walk, why not bring along a dog? Now I don’t like walking without one.

I know it sounds paranoid, but I’m thinking of getting a Taser. I’m no fool. There are bad people and bad dogs out there. My husband has a client that is a security guard, and he says the Taser is the way to go for me. I can’t imagine firing a gun. I can remember on the day of the attack, when I was finally safe inside the neighbor’s house, I was drawn to her knife block. But I didn’t even consider using it to hurt that killer dog. But a Taser?

My only fear is if it could kill a dog. There have been documented cases on humans. Not very many, but they do exist. I’ve also learned that if a dog attacks and kills your dog (or mauls you), you aren’t in trouble. A judge can order the dog to be put down. But as soon as you defend yourself against the dog, and injure it, the incident becomes something else. Self-defense becomes something you have to prove. I wish I didn’t feel the need to think of such things.

I took a banner walk last Sunday with my husband, my daughter, Chico, and Roxie. It was the walk I used to love before I had my second panic attack. We begin at a park in Santa Cruz, and walk down to the harbor. Then we follow the harbor all the way down to the lighthouse. It’s not only a lovely walk, but also a nice long exercise for all. There are a LOT of dogs and their owners that take that walk to the lighthouse. But last Sunday the sky was clear, the ocean air was warm, and best of all the tide was coming in.

Ah. When the tide comes in there are the most beautiful waves that crash on the riprap that surrounds the lighthouse. There is a paved place to stand – even sweet little nooks and crannies to have a picnic. But on Sunday it was soaked! Practically everywhere there were puddles, and when the waves crashed it sounded like thunder as the huge whitecaps splashed onto the pavement and mist filled the air. Who wouldn’t love that?

The Lighthouse and Riprap

The best thing about this walk was that it was NOT frightening for me in the slightest. Up until last Sunday, I had been avoiding the place. I still remember the scare from that Pit Bull I coming towards me while I was taking in the beautiful sight of a school of dolphins swimming offshore. It caused the worst panic attack I’ve ever experienced. Even so, it also caused me to break down and get help. Help that is working! This was the first time I had the nerve to try the lighthouse walk again. Soon I will try it alone.