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Ruling my my new land was more complex than both spots in Ohio. I told you last time about the walls and the invisible monsters. A lack of command posts really cramped my style, but my reactions were automatic. At the slightest noise, my instincts sent out the front door, only to be confronted by the immovable concrete barrier and the dissipating sound of a threat. Ddori and Cha-cha rarely joined me in my rounds. If they were already outside with me, they'd turn their heads and watch. Ddori seemed bored by it all. And Cha-cha, seemed content to let her older cousin—me—handle it. Maybe you know me well enough by now to not be surprised to hear that I didn't back down from the challenge.
Auntie must've noticed because every night, she filled my bowl with fresh protein. Trust me, thinly sliced braised chicken gizzards taste great, even better than chicken breast. So began another trend, and I slowly got longer and longer. Dad wondered if I was too long to fit in the carrier I traveled in inside the airplane. Daily walks in one of the local parks or during our day trips added muscle to my haunches. Going up the steep concrete stairs to check out the second deck also strengthened my legs. On the walks, Ddori, Cha-cha and I would run a lot. On occasion, Ddori even got playful, and we wrestled and chased each other on a wooden deck in one of our favorite parks.
When summer arrived, we increased the frequency of our day trips. One day we headed north one day and visited two famous beaches. They're in Gangneung, a popular resort city due east of Seoul and right on the Pacific Ocean. Gyeongpo and Jumunjun beaches are usually packed in late summer, when the water warms. But the sands were practically all ours that day. Squid is popular in Korea, and that's a statue of a squid you see me and Mom standing in front of at Jumunjin beach. Dad loves the ocean and loves to swim. I hate both but love Dad. So, when the waves are crashing, all's well as long as I'm in his or Mom's arms.
On a separate day trip, we visited Buyeo, the former capital of Baekjae Kingdom, one of the two losers to Silla in the 7th Century Unification War. Surrounded by cosmos and lotus flowers, ponds and walkways, we spent a wonderful time relaxing after looking at a house we didn't want to buy.
Some days it was too hot to go outside, so we lazed at home, cooled by new air conditioners purchased from a home shopping channel. Whether at home or in the car, Ddori loved to take naps. I preferred to be on the lookout for whatever was coming our way.
More tales will be coming your way soon. Until then, thanks for reading my blog.
Tango 🐾
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