Woozy
Michelle and Woozy
Years ago I was working 2 jobs and trying to find the time to take care of Woozy, the dog I had adopted when I graduated from college. On a fateful day I was walking Woozy down the street and I heard, "Hey... great dog!" I looked up and saw a young man sitting in an apartment window, smoking a cigarette. I was having a terrible day and said, "Well, I live across the street. Any time you want her, she's yours. Come down and meet her and let me find a key for you." In our first conversation Chris told me that he had AIDS and was home on disability. He had lost all his friends to the disease and had nothing to do all day. Woozy would fill his void. When I went to work in the morning, Chris would come over to get Woozy. He would take her to tea at the Fairmont, kite flying at Crissy Field, coffee in North Beach. Every day they would have an adventure. Even when he was sick he would get her. He felt it was his responsibility. Eventually, Chris did die. At the funeral his mom told me that she thought Woozy added five years to his life and that he was suicidal when we met but found such joy in his new shared dog. Woozy brought him purpose and love when he had nothing to live for.