Vera + Lily

I met a young man on my walk today. He looked familiar. Lily sniffed him and he said she probably smells my dog. Which dog is yours, I asked? Vera, the miniature Schnauzer. Oh yeah, the cute gray one. He told me he was on his way to his AA meeting. He told me his dog keeps him out of trouble. When I've just 'had it' and I'm on the verge of going out drinking I look at her face and she stops me in my tracks. He said Vera is four and he celebrates her birthday and his sobriety on the same day. I was touched that he was so comfortable telling me this. I told him I recently read that Alice Cooper took up golf as a replacement for drinking and now he coaches rock stars who need help staying sober. Lily and I walked him to the church meeting on our way home.