Dandelion

I had the blessing to spend time with Kristy in the wonderful Highlands, focalising Trees for Life weeks together, where her love for nature and love for people shone. Her delight in the natural world could draw you to attend to things you had always taken for granted. I will never forget one golden afternoon in Glen Moriston, us both lying flat on our bellies on the grass, peering into the heart of a dandelion seedhead. As she marvelled at it, I gazed at it more attentively, and realised that although I had seen countless dandelion clocks before, I had simply never looked at one like Kristy was now – close enough and long enough and curiously enough to truly appreciate it. In awe and fascination and reverence, we beheld the beauty of its geometric pattern drawn in the gossamer of its silky pappus. The wonder I felt then was a gift from Kristy, and it was one she gave freely to everyone she met. She was enchanted by the world, and in being so, enchanted it for others. It will not be long before the dandelions are out, and when they are, I shall look, and wonder, and think of Kristy.