In 2003, on a layover in Dallas on our way from Denver to Tampa, the Complimentary Spouse and I were downcast after an upsetting incident with his family. To cheer Britt up, I bought him a little stuffed elephant at a kiosk.1
We named the elephant Daal because he came from Dallas and we gave him two A’s because the airport’s people mover was called the TrAAin.2
I can’t remember who proposed we started taking Daal on trips, but he soon became our traveling companion. From 2004 to 2013, we’d bring him along in a backpack or jacket pocket and show him the sights. And we took photos. Lots of photos. Here are a few of them:
We retired Daal when we got Lucy in 2013. Lucy kept eying Daal as a chew toy. And Daal was getting older. His tag had fallen off, and the batteries in his voice box died.3 His fur was starting to get dirty, even though we’d try to wash him with wet cloths.
Daal is enjoying his retirement in the top drawer of Britt’s dresser. He comes out from time to time to say hi.
1 Britt was in the bathroom when I got the elephant and I surprised him when he got out. Boy, I hope he washed his hands.
2 Explanation for the horrible name: The people mover system only went to American Airlines terminals, and American Airline’s logo is a double A. Even if you know this, the name is still terrible and whoever chose it should have been fired.
3 My mother performed stuffed animal surgery to remove the voice box.