Conquering Fear

When I was a kid about 100 years ago (or at least thats some times how it feels) I grew up in the Northwest corner of the Bronx called Riverdale.

We moved into a pre-World War II apartment complex that had a dozen or so individual buildings, each 6 floors and each with 5 apartments on a floor. We lived on the 5th floor, apartment 2. On the 4th floor of apartment 2 was a kid 6 months younger than me who had a terrier for a pet. I think it was a Welsh Terrier, but I could be wrong about that. 

It seemed logical that we would become friends - best friends in fact. As best friends do when living right over and under each other, we'd go to each others place to play. Most of the time, he'd come to my apartment or we'd go to the playground. The thing was, I was very afraid of his dog - not just his - all dogs. I don't know the reason. There was probably a traumatic  experience I had as a toddler that I can't remember, but I feared dogs. 

Welsh Terrier

When I'd ring his door bell, the dog would start barking. I hated that. The door would open and I'd walk in sideways with my hands up (like I was under arrest) until they controlled dog. Then I'd relax. The dog's name, by the way, was not politically incorrect at the time and I don't think the name represented any sexual preference of political view. I can't recall if the dog was male or female, but I do recall the dog's name was "Gay". 

I don't remember the turning point or the what came over me, but one day, I went downstairs, rang the door bell and when it was answered, I immediately knelt down and started to hug and play with Gay -  the dog. From that point on, Gay and I were best buds. 

I don't recommend that if you are afraid of dogs that you should go up to the 1st Pitbull you see and try the same thing. In fact, the conquering of this fear did not really extend beyond this dog for quite awhile. 

A few years later, my parents bought us a dog, but I'll leave that for another post.