Planting Dandelions

The stories being gathered under The Crack In Everything are already wonderful. I thought I’d share one of the sources of light in my week, with the hope that you’ll be inspired to add your own.

I was catching up with a girlfriend last night, having one of those visits where we really check in with each other–when the question”how are you?” actually means something.

I told her I’d been feeling out of sorts the past few days, though I wasn’t sure why. Maybe pre-holiday stress, I guessed. Or my birthday next week.

“I’ve been having these morbid anxieties,” I confessed. “Nothing specific, just reckoning with mortality. I don’t know what’s triggered it.” I frowned, frustrated at my inability to tie my moodiness up in a neat analytical bow.

My friend refilled my glass of wine and smiled, like she had a really good joke to lay on me.

“You know, I’ve been thinking about the weather this week, and wondering how you’re doing with the grey skies, and the cold.”

It took me a minute. Because from Halloween to Groundhog Day, I have the brain of a primitive squirrel.

“I go through this every year, don’t I?”

My friend laughed and nodded.

“The clocks go back, and the sun goes away, and I’m all, IT’S COLD AND DARK AND WE’RE ALL GOING TO DIE.”

“Yes,” she giggled mirthfully.

“Well, damn,” I said, grinning. “Thank you for reminding me.”

“That’s the beautiful thing about being friends for years,” she said. “We remember.”