i have been walking to work lately. my apartment is almost exactly one mile from the restaurant where i work tables, and my car has been acting funny lately. i am realizing that i might like to walk to work all the time, no matter my car's condition. it is so relaxing, and it is obviously very healthy.

on my walk from work to home, i always see something special. i was reminded today on my way from work to home, surprisingly enough. for some reason, i only notice this on the return trip, but never when i am headed to work from home. i find that interesting. the special sight is the amazing amount of dandelions lining the sidewalk where i tread. now, when i was very young, i considered all plant life to be the same, and was not aware of the categories, such as flowers or weeds. well, by the time i understood those differences, it was impossible to view dandelions as anything but wishes unwished. you see, as a child, i used the dandelions i found to wish on. i would make a wish, and then blow the fuzz off the end of the weed. if it all came off in one blow, the wish would surely come true. i am sure many folks have done that and still do. i found myself, just the other night, picking a dandelion on my walk home, and waiting until i was nearly home to blow on it. it did not all come off, but thinking about the wish was good, nonetheless.

today, i listened to my cassette player through headphones as i walked to and from work for the lunch shift. i am not sure if anyone has ever made a better album then toad the wet sprocket's dulcinea. i have always loved the songs, but today was when some things finally clicked for me. wow. maybe it was being surrounded by wishes as i listened that triggered the realization for me.