It’s no coincidence that Dog is God spelled backward, and those who love dogs, know something about God. A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than it loves itself, and there’s nothing like the unconditional love of a pet. They show you affection and give you a sense of purpose. Animals are such agreeable friends—they ask no questions; they pass no criticisms. Dogs don’t make judgments about physical appearance or abilities, and they don’t care how big your house is or what you do for a living. They care about the quality of your character and your capacity to love. Did you know that dogs are also the only non-primate animal that looks people in the eyes? Other animals make eye contact, but dogs look for direction in people’s eyes. Dogs and humans have grown to need each other. We cannot separate the love of dogs from people, and dogs fill a nurturing need that people have. A dog is a portal to pure love, and through their eyes, we see the face of God.
Humans and dogs have such a strange relationship that seems impossible to imagine with any other animal. Think of other animals that humans have domesticated. Humans have used cows, sheep, goats, pigs, and chickens to make life better, but humans could separate from these animals if we needed to. But many people would not choose to separate themselves from dogs. Humans and dogs, by contrast, adore each other. When Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans in 2005, so many people refused to evacuate without their dogs that Congress passed a law requiring disaster preparedness plans to make accommodations for pets.
A dog’s love should never be taken for granted because people and dogs share such a unique bond. This bond makes our lives inseparable. For many, the reaction we can get from dogs is proof enough that dogs truly love us. They show their love in the best ways. While their support may inflate your ego, it genuinely feels good to know that your pet cares about you as much as you do them. So how do you know if your dog loves you?
They miss you. How many times have you come home from work or the store to a dog that’s too excited for its own good? Heck, how many times have you walked out of the house for a minute only to be greeted by a dog that acts like you’ve been gone for months? Dog’s certainly love their humans and are excited to see you no matter how long it’s been. They Sleep with you. Dogs are pack animals, and they always want to nest with their leader. They want to keep tabs on you. They want to make sure you’re safe. Sleeping near you shows that they can’t be comfortable without you. They Snuggle Up. How many times have you given your dog a nice pet only to have them lean heavily into it? It might be their signal to pet a little harder, but it’s also a sign that they totally trust you. If you take a seat on the couch and have your dog grab a spot on your lap or if they’re right next to you, they are showing that they feel safe with you. They Bring You Their Favorite Toy. Your dog may just want to play, but chances are that your dog wants to share as well. Dogs really don’t have that much to physically offer you, but if they have a favorite toy that may be generous enough to share.
What began as a mutual-services contract between two very different species has become something much more like love. None of that makes a lick of sense, but it doesn’t have to. Love rarely touches the reasoning parts of the brain. It touches the dreamy parts, the devoted parts—it touches the parts we sometimes call the heart. For many thousands of years, it’s there that our dogs have lived. Dogs are the most amazing creatures. They live brave, beautiful lives. They protect their families, love us, and make our lives a little brighter. Right up until they die, they live because they don’t waste time being afraid of tomorrow.
Such short little lives our pets have to spend with us, and they spend most of it waiting for us to come home each day. It is amazing how much love and laughter they bring into our lives and even how much closer we become with each other because of them. Animals have a much better attitude to life and death than we do. They know when their time has come. We are the ones that suffer when they pass, but it’s a healing kind of grief that enables us to deal with other griefs that are not so easy to grab hold of. The past few weeks have been hard for us and "ruff" for Nora – diagnosis, liver surgery, waiting for biopsy results, and now recovery. It made me realize that she may not be my whole life, but she makes my life whole. For over sixteen years, she has been the one constant in my life while everything else changed. I don't know what I will do the day she says goodbye. They say the road to heaven is paved with paw prints, and if it's not, that doesn't sound much like paradise to me.
Spaghetti and Meatballs have been an annual Christmas Eve tradition in our home for over 16 years. While the boys were opening up Christmas pajamas before bed, Nora jumped onto the kitchen table and licked all our leftover plates clean. We caught her red-faced and unapologetic. She is known as a "Houndini" in escapism and Naughty Nora for her mischief. We have loved her incredible sweet spirit and would not wish it any other way. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as she does.
Nora’s Christmas Eve Spaghetti and Meatballs
INGREDIENTS
- 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 cup beef stock
- 1/2 medium sweet onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Zest of 1 lemon
For the meatballs
- 1-pound lean ground beef
- 1-pound ground Italian sausage
- 1/2 cup Panko
- 1/4 cup whole milk
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 3 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
DIRECTIONS
- In a large bowl, combine ground beef, sausage, Panko, milk, egg, Parmesan, parsley, and garlic; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Using clean hands, mix until well combined. Roll the mixture into 3/4-to-1-inch meatballs, forming about 30-35 meatballs.
- Bake in a preheated 375F oven for 25-30 min (turning ½ way) until browned.
- Place crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef stock, onion, garlic, and sugar into a large pot. Stir in meatballs until well combined; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Cover and cook on low heat for 30-35 minutes.
- Cook pasta according to package directions, 8-9 minutes.
- Add lemon zest to the sauce and stir well.
- Add 1 cup of sauce to drained pasta. Plate and top with meatballs and sauce. Garnish with fresh parsley and grated Parmesan cheese.
- Serve immediately.
Note: This recipe can also be made in a slow cooker. Heat 1 ½ tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add meatballs, in batches, and cook until all sides are browned about 2-3 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate; set aside. Place crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef stock, onion, garlic, and sugar into a 6-quart slow cooker. Stir in meatballs until well combined; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Cover and cook on low heat for 7-8 hours or high heat for 3-4 hours. Add lemon zest right before serving. Combine 1 cup sauce over cooked pasta. Plate per directions above.
