I went for a run today. It’s recently felt good to be putting my very expensive Pride-edition Brooks Ghost running shoes to use after they’d been collecting dust for a hot minute.
After hitting the 1-mile mark at Foster on the lakefront trail—and feeling (and fearing) the return of what I consider the worst injury of my basketball career: shin splints—I pulled over for a much-needed stretch.
I found myself in a random patch of grass near the path, Pursuit of Happiness still playing in my ears, and I settled into a seated stretch facing south… half-watching two kids kick a soccer ball around.
That’s when I noticed the dandelion directly to my right.
I’ve been thinking about getting a dandelion as my next tattoo. So, while realistically speaking, I definitely poured more sentiment into the little, gently-swaying dandelion than it likely warranted, it felt like a sign. I paused my stretch to jot down my feels right then and there. In retrospect, it might’ve just been an excuse to mission-abort my stretch (what I need more of in life often overlaps with the parts of working out I prefer to avoid).
I thought about blowing it out and making a wish. Then decided I’ve already done exactly that a few too many times lately. So I left it.
I felt compelled to give it a name, at the very least.
Danni the Dandelion was the first thing that came to mind. The alliteration gave it a nice ring, and Danny was the last person I texted before my run, so I’m sure there was some recency bias surfacing there too. Danni also felt gender bendy in a way I liked, especially with no one I know spelling it with a double n and i. Yes, I recognize giving it a name was silly and extra.
I’m going to try to find myself on more runs to that exact spot: 41.9765010, -87.6487025 (per my pin) and see how long Danni sticks around. My guess? Not long. I had to play goalie three times as the kids’ soccer ball came rolling my way, nearly trampling Danni each time. (Only one of those three kicks actually went in the direction I intended in my attempt to kick it back.)
Whether Danni goes out by soccer ball, by the inevitable gusts of wind that blow a little extra harder near Lady Michigan, or by a stranger who needs a wish more than I did today, there will be no hard feelings.
I’ll just remember that in that moment, it felt good to let my fingers do some writing. To imagine a new tattoo. To kick a soccer ball wildly off-course. To give entirely too much meaning to a tiny inanimate dandelion—just for the sake of slowing down. And to simultaneously avoid the stretches I should probably get back to now. 🫠
10/10 would recommend making friends with your local neighborhood dandelion.
Hawaiian Princess Pieces 