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Friday, May 21, 2021

Enigma of Romeow

 Let's begin with a backyard photo of Romeow:

He is very handsome and full of drama. He is named after a Shakespearean character who ended tragically. 

The drama, Romeo and Juliet,  calls for its appellative role-players to drink from the same wrong bottle. 

The cat was stunned: "Really? They drank poison?"

How could I lie to that honest, earnest face? I replied, "No, little friend. The real Romeo and Juliet wandered into the road and got run over by a car. But consider, the play was written in the 1590s when sane people knew all about poison but somewhat less about cars."

"So Norma named me Romeow...."

"Yes! To keep you out of the road."

"Got it, 'keep out of road' but what about poison?"

"They are conterminous tragedies. Stay away from both --also from Capulets and Montagues. "

"Never heard of them."

"Start with Arthur Brooke. Good luck! 

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I feel I must include an alternative interpretation of Romeow's intense expression and, for your consideration, offer it here as addendum (mech.: supplements added to the outer rims of wheels):



 

28 comments:

  1. Very clever name! Romeow, or Roameo would work too. :)

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    1. Dear Margaret, "Roameo" --excellent and descriptive variation. Some license was taken with the name from the outset. In Arthur Brooke's (1550s?) poem "Tragicall Historye of Romeus and Juliet", later modified by Shakespeare to "Romeo", we see the trend emerge.

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  2. Oh Little Romeow, listen to Norma and Geo. Roads are dangerous places. You are a handsome little fellow. We don't want you to come to any harm.

    Geo., how are things in your world?

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    1. 0_Jenny, so far young Romeow has behaved very well, sometimes cautiously even. We are pleased by his friendliness and general good nature. He helps.

      This brings me to "how are things...?". 10 days ago I rolled out of bed while asleep and remained asleep all the way to the floor. However, I was able to minimize damage to most of my body by taking the whole impact with my face. Happily my Humana-furnished mask covers the broken nose and impossible discolorations in public. I'm almost presentable now!

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    2. Gracious, Geo.! I'm very sorry to read of your fall and your broken nose and bruises. That's not a good way to wake up. I hope you heal quickly. And I hear you about the masks - I look much better with my family nose covered up :) Maybe you should start sleeping with an air mattress or some such thing beside the bed?

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    3. Dear Jenny, excellent suggestion. We are looking for a cushioned rug to cover my usual landing site. As to healing, I look forward to tomorrow --because I get better-looking every day.

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    4. Your last point is an excellent way of looking at things :)

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  3. O Romeow, Romeow, stay away from the road, Romeow.

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    1. Dear Delightful Emma. Shakespeare himself could not have said it better.

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  4. Fortunately, our feline friends are reinforced with nine lives - which reduces the pitfalls of playing on highways or drinking from the wrong bottles (I suspect my cats have eighteen lives...)

    Romeow is a purrfect name for this delightful charmer. Who could possibly resist those eyes, those whiskers, that little pink nose...?

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    1. Dear Jon, I have not told Romeow that he has at least eight more lives. Don't want his ego overinflated. In fact I have added a 2nd version of his intense expression under the original text (please go see). But yes, there is something about that pink nose that is incorruptible.

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    2. Well, thanks to the alternative photo we now know what Romeow was really thinking. Being very familiar with cat thoughts, food doesn't surprise me.

      Geo - I'm SO sorry to hear about your horrible tumble out of bed. What a rude awakening!! I hope you're feeling better and on the mend.

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    3. Indeed, I thought of "food" right away after Romeow furnished 2 beautiful "O"s for the middle of the word.
      Re. tumble: I 1st broke my nose in 1976, then 2 weeks ago. If it only happens once per century, I can deal with it. Thanks for good wishes.

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  5. That is one wonderful expression. It seems so full of interest and curiosity, so maybe your addendum photo explains it.

    Romeow, Romeow where forth art thou?
    Staying here and being fed, for now!

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    1. Dear Tom, I read Romeow's expression as that of one dedicated to Love, to Liberty --not to feudal prejudice, grudges or misguided loyalties. To be fed involves more than physical nourishment; it includes the spirit as well.

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  6. You don't want your kitty friends to be cat-erwauling "Romeow, Romeow, wherefore art thou, Romeow?" Stay outa the road and leave the poison for the rats, you cool cat.

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    1. Dear Bruce, in modern parlance, wherefore=why: 'Why are you Romeow?', to which the best answer is,'why the hell not?' Your take on road safety and poison is spot on.

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  7. Romeow is a purrfect name! And such a handsome Tuxie, too!!!

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    1. Most kind m'Lady, although it's been 4oo+ years since Shakespeare's time, Anne Hathaway is still working --even though she prefers to be called Annie. I'd tell Romeow but don't think he'd understand.

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    1. I do too, Jackiesue. Cats have always delighted me with their sometimes readable faces.

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  9. A truly wonderful name for your new cat!!!!!!!

    And, I am happy about your use of “conterminous”.... I had never stumbled across the word before..... it is an absolutely wonderful word, and I am trying to commit it to memory so that if the right timing occurs, I can find a way to pepper it into my speech!!!!

    I am very appreciative for the new word!

    PipeTobacco

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    1. Thanks dear Prof., I gather we share interest in the same philological contours. There must be a word for that.

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  10. Is someone going to tell that Republican Congressional hopeful in Wyoming who described his sex with a 14 year old as a Romeo and Juliet thing that if he's going to play that script, he gotta take a drink from the bottle labeled poison?

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    1. Not I, dear Jeff. Interesting analogy --and an unsurprising closeness in age  --Senator Bouchard was 18 at the time. Beyond their compassionate, successful resistance of pressure to abort the offspring I refuse to judge that young couple. Not 40+ years later, no. Rev., you know I'm a liberal, but I can't ignore Matthew 7:1-3.

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  11. Romeow is a magnificent looking cat! I am sure he sets the female felines’hearts aflutter.

    Not from the Bard, but from another great writer and poet, Conway Twitty:
    Those eyes, those eyes
    Make me do most anything they want
    Me to do
    When I look in
    Those eyes, those eyes
    I know I will never say goodbye when I
    Look into
    Those eyes.

    Not at the same level as Shakespeare, but Twitty made more money.

    I am so sorry to read about your bad landing and your face meeting floor. As a fellow faller, may I recommend Arnicare. It works well on black, blue, red and green.


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    1. Dear Arleen, Thanks for the Arnicare tip! I don't care how how many colors we are; still love you. Conway Twitty was a top-ten radio friend since I was a kid. My favorite is a duet he sang later with Loretta Lynn, "You're The Reason Our Kids Are Ugly" --https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFq6eZBS1iM.

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    2. P.s.: But let's not neglect to recognize today, 5/24/21, as Bob Dylan's 80th birthday. Yes, he's still with us.

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