People often tell me that I’m a “people person.” I consider that a compliment and enjoy meeting people.

It’s also interesting how people get their names. Some are handed down from generation to generation, others through much thought and discussion, many after famous people, and a few in the blink of an eye.

Last Friday, there was a light drizzle as I left the Reserve post office. A lady was standing on the corner and I waved to her. She returned my wave.

As I approached the river road, I looked in my rearview mirror and noticed the lady was still standing in the same spot while the rain came down a little harder.

I made a U-turn and stopped to ask her if she was waiting for a ride.

“No,” she said. “I’m walking home.”

“Get in the car,” I said, “I’ll give you a lift.”

She thanked me a lot as she got in the car. Jokingly, I said, “You better thank God, because He told me to pick you up when I first saw you, but I said I was in a hurry. God then said, “Turn around!”

We laughed and I introduced myself and asked her name. She answered, “Lavoris.”

“That sounds like a mouthwash!”

“It is! Fifty-six years ago when I was born, my mother, Gussie, liked the sound of the name and that’s how I got it.”

After a long conversation, we arrived at her house. She thanked me and with much excitement, said, “Today makes 121 days that I’ve been drug-free.”

“How did you get straight?”

“I went to a place in Morgan City.”

I know about the facility, which is called Fairview Treatment Center. I’ve met many people and am not good at remembering names, but I’ll never forget Lavoris. (Note:  I asked her for permission to write this article.)

If you have any questions or comments, please write Harold Keller at Get High on Life, P.O. Drawer U, Reserve, LA 70084, call 985-542-8477 or email hkeller@comcast.net.