As much as I miss my Dal, I am finding a certain amount of comfort in knowing that she is waiting out there for Vann. She brought Vann to me.
Back in New Orleans after the storm, it was important to find a way to capture some sense of normal living amidst the devestation. Every morning, (and sometimes more) Dali and I would walk. One November morning, we were crossing through the back parking lot of the Chase Bank at Broad St. and DeSoto when this huge white truck pulled up and stopped. This guy hung out of the drivers side and says: "Great Dog!" I chuckled to myself, told him all about my Dali and why she was "Dali" and not "Dolly". We introduced ourselves, shook hands, and shared that we both lived in the hood.
After that, I'd see Vann's truck everywhere I went. He'd often pass the house on Columbus Street on his way to a debris site and pretty soon he'd stop from time to time. He quickly became a part of my after the storm life in New Orleans and beyond.
One of the things I loved about Vann was how mouch he loved the "four-legged" children. Dali was never a bother. Sam was often full of love pecks, but he didn't mind. He'd tell me about his dog "Gus" and how it broke his heart not to have him with him.
And so today, Dali and Gus are waiting there for Vann.
That's a pretty grand threesome.
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