And Now She's Vivian

Almost 8 years ago we adopted a tiny china blue chihuahua. Using our strange but seemingly infallible method of naming (this being we call out names to the puppy and when said puppy responds, we have a name!). This little gal chose the name Della, against many protests from my daughter who said "Mom you just can't name that little dog Della!". To which I replied "It's the name she chose and it's the name she keeps". So for almost 8 years Della has been, well, Della. But today she wouldn't respond to her name, just sat in my lap gazing in my eyes with this earnest expression. And then the thought hit me. Della isn't her name, she must have hiccuped or something and we just thought that was the name she chose. With her focus expressly on my face, I begin saying names to her, just a few. Finally, when I said the nameVivian she started jumping up and down, in a state of excitement, a look of rapture on her little face. And all's well that ends well. Vivian-formerly called Della, is napping now after exhausting herself celebrating and finally landing her true name.