Who is beautiful, red-haired, big-assed, divine? Who romps around chasing rabbits, then walks home at dawn with a big smile on his face and covered in fresh deer poop? Are you the one who came back? Rome!
Rome takes its name from the Capitoline Wolf, a bronze sculpture representing the goddess Luperea, who protects her herds from wolf attacks. In the most popular version of this myth, a 7th century she-wolf nurses her two abandoned babies, Romulus and Remus, saving her life. Years later, the twins founded a city that became the capital of the Roman Empire.
When I first saw her on a hot August weekend 11 years ago, her name immediately came to mind. I was very pregnant and was toddling outside to buy water. There, a few months old orange puppy, braved a busy intersection in Barcelona.
I have never been a pet lover. And I simply don't understand why people would cage or tie up animals, especially in harsh urban environments. But that day, I acted without hesitation. I raised my arms like Gandalf, stepped boldly into the street, stopped the car, and screamed. “Do you think this poor creature can understand the whole honking thing?'' I grabbed the pup by the scruff of the neck and dragged him out of there, just as a mother would. Then I took her to her vet and left her in her good hands.
A few hours later, the phone rang. The vet's office was scheduled to close in 10 minutes. The puppy, who is about 4 months old, had no identification chip or any visible health problems other than a recent scare. On Monday she would go straight to the pound.
Rome flourished like no other when my daughter and I moved in and I chose to move to the countryside.
In the countryside, it's easy to enjoy home-cooked, healthy meals. If you order from your local pizza place on a Friday afternoon, you're out of luck. There is no delivery service here so you have to pick up your food. It's more convenient to do a weekly or biweekly grocery shopping trip to keep your pantry stocked with essentials and snacks.
When I buy a whole chicken, or a large cut of beef or pork, I throw all the leftover cartilage, tendons, bones, and scraps into a pot and simmer in water for a few minutes. The soup is then stored in the refrigerator to season Roman dishes. Feeding raw chicken to our dog could put our neighbor's live chickens at risk if someday Roma mistakes it for a treat.
There is a flock of sheep near my house. All of us who live around here know the shepherd's schedule and work habits. He makes sure they are all tagged with bells so everyone knows where they are. This way you won't run into any sheep and you can walk around Rome without a leash.
Roma is currently unable to move due to bone pain. She feels stiff due to her overexertion, which lasts for several days. I can understand that she is frustrated by the limitations of her aging body. Still, she knows that the little pleasures in her life, enjoying the nice smells of the outdoors like rabbit or fresh deer poop, are worth the occasional splurge. Personally, I don't like eating a lot of sweets because I know it can lead to heartburn and sleepless nights. Roma only escape a few times a year. She doesn't feel like locking her up in her room or tying her down like in the city.
Recently, a woman attacked me in the supermarket and shouted, “Look at Nicolau, the champion of healthy eating!” This photo will become a hot topic on Twitter! ” I was caught red-handed with several bags of Cheetos and mini donuts in my cart.
We eat not only to nourish our bodies, but also to enjoy the joys of life and experience freedom. Living without contradiction is akin to fanaticism. Ladies, I refuse to give in to your terrorist threats. Please admit that. We all crave junk food from time to time.
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