Wishing Flowers

Ashley is enchanted by dandelions, especially the blossoms that have gone to seed.  She calls them "wishing flowers."  Ashley finds the largest, most perfectly round white flowers and carefully severs the stem so as to avoid jostling the flower prematurely.  She loves to carefully pluck off the cottony seeds and watch the wind lift them away from her hand.  Sometimes she opens her lungs and heaves a great gust of air at the small blossom, and then she laughs with delight at all the seeds dancing and twirling through the breeze.

For the rest of my life, no matter how old my darling Ashley is, I think I will always hear her small, sweet voice in my mind, "Look Mommy!  A gorgeous wishing flower!  Here, blow the seeds!" and perfected in my memory will be the way she bounces and claps her hands with a dimpled, delighted smile on her face and a sparkle in her hazel eyes.