Lucky and Bo

If you live in South Charlotte, in the area south of Highway 51 and travel either Providence or Rea Road you might recall seeing an older man and his dog panhandling from the medium.

Most often seen at Ballantyne Commons Parkway and Rea Road, the man was known to many as “Lucky” and his dog’s name was “Bo”.

Over the past two years Lucky and Bo were a notable fixture of Charlotte’s homeless and panhandler landscape. 

The pair took panhandling to an art form. Who among us can’t feel pity for the poor homeless dog. 

The dog and the man made a great team, Lucky was always gracious with a smile and wave, and his steadfast companion by his side never seeming to mind as countless cars racing by just a foot to two from his human sidekick. 

Bo stood by Lucky on rainy days as well as hot summer afternoons never seeming to mind at all.

Bo of course was as much a part of the sales pitch as Lucky was. 

The money was good, the hours easy and the best part no 1040 to file each April.

Lucky lived out of his grey pickup truck to which Bo always called “shotgun”. 

They were a quintessential “John Steinbeck and Charley” traveling the countryside on the cheap. 

“And all plans, safeguards, policing, and coercion are fruitless. We find after years of struggle that we do not take a trip; a trip takes us.”

Lucky did well by Bo, and more than a few of my neighbors took to helping “Bo” when needed even so much as taking “Bo” to Rea Road Animal Hospital and covering the Vet expenses. 

“Bo” did the same taking care of Lucky.

Lucky passed away last week in New York. There are those who would say Lucky had a rough life but honestly you can’t put a value on that kind of freedom.

His family stepped in to help when it was needed and brought Lucky and Bo back home to New York.

Bo passed away a few weeks before Lucky, due to an abdominal tumor. 

Perhaps losing Bo was just too much for Lucky, losing his best friend had to be hard.

Yet perhaps in the end as Steinbeck wrote:

“Who has not known a journey to be over and done before the traveler returns? The reverse is also true: many a trip continues long after movement in time and space have ceased.”

Godspeed Lucky and Bo.