People say I’m crazy, but I named my new dog “Bancarrota.”  Why?  Because I want a reminder around so I know never to have to file for bancarrota again.  Those were the two worst years of my life, trying to repay all my debts and having to tell everyone I had no money.  I was ashamed, but I had to be honest. When I got a new job working as an accountant at a good, reliable firm, when I’d saved up enough money and gotten a new apartment, the dog was the first real thing I got with my money that I didn’t absolutely need.  He’s small right now, but when he gets older he’s going to be pretty big.  He’s a german shepherd mixed with a collie.  He’s got a white underbelly, but the rest of his fur is black mixed with gray.  Yeah, he’s a burden.  I have to buy him food and medicine since he has a stomach condition and I have to remember to walk him three times a day.  But it’s all worth it.  When I call him and when I have to yell “Bancarrota! Bancarrota!” at the top of my lungs, I’ll remember being bankrupt is a lot harder to deal with.