We’ve been dealing with a bit of a “neighbor situation” for the past few months. When the initial dog attack happened, I was not exactly what you would call calm. A nasty pit bull had his jaws clamped on my dog’s ear, the owner was barely holding back his other big dog, and I started to think my dog was going to die because the other dog showed no signs of letting up.

When that dogs owner then yelled at me that my dog had attacked his (while my dog was still locked in the jaws of his beast) I, shall we say, lost my ever loving mind.

When he accosted me a few days later, calling me names, I got riled up again and fired back that he was a [redacted]. It wasn’t my calmest moment, but he really is.

All of this background to say that said redneck buffoon roared up to the bottom of the driveway this past Friday as my husband was picking up our garbage cans. My husband said that he was just nattering and rambling, and blabbering on, while my husband did what he does best - staying even-temperered and collected. I laughed so hard as he recounted the conversation.

The dude in need of an anger management course raved on for ten minutes or so. My husband’s calm responses only served to frustrate him and he eventually drove away. We’re far enough removed from the attack, time-wise, that I think I’ll be able to keep my temper in check if I do run into him again. I just don’t do well when stressful situations blow up in my face like they did that day and the days following.

How is it in your relationship? Who is the more even-tempered spouse?

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