Pictures, many pictures were forwarded and with each one, the love grew deeper. The emails were full of hope. They were full of the kinds of information that only bring makes the heart grow larger and flutter like it could fly right out of your chest. The time was mercilessly slow at first and then the arrival date seemed to come upon me with a speed that didn’t seem humanly possible.
There were the preparations to be made. There was so much happiness and love that went into it that it did not matter how much work was involved. Even the dullest task was fun.
Sleep was elusive because the mind was engaged in a jumble of mixed emotions, but the dreams when they did come, were magnificent and vivid and in full color.
Nothing in the world seemed out of order, gray or anything but shades of beautiful colors.
Everyone in it seemed kinder, more patient and when they learned about the pending arrival and the emails, they joined in the giddy excitement and even offered to help, or added items to my shopping bags that were to be considered gifts.
Arriving with plenty of time to spare that day, because sometimes airplanes make it to their destinations early, I knew exactly what I was searching for in the crowds making their way to the baggage claim.
It was a busy morning, continuous mobs of travelers with no ebb in sight flowed into the baggage area, and then the crowd seemed to part, as though they were choreographed to take a step aside and open a path for the star of the show.
I saw him from far away at first as the crowd stepped aside and parted. They were pointing and nodding and smiling. And then I saw. The man in the gray jumpsuit with the American Airlines patch was holding the crate, which was swinging with his gait, with the tiniest little traveler bouncing at the front of the crate greeting everyone who was giving way.
The tiniest little Lulu, as happy to see me as I was to see her, had arrived. The man in gray handed me the crate and I dropped to my knees to get my first Lulu kiss. The crowd had stopped along with me and I swear I recall a large collective sigh. They were smitten too.
I lifted her from her crate and I must admit, I swooned. I don’t think it was my creaky knees giving out. Not at all. It was gob-smacked, swooning love for a 2 pound little Lulu who remains, still, one of the greatest loves of my life.
Little Lulu
Lulu v. The Foot
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