We Are Dandelions

Last Sunday, after church, a couple of the guys told me we had some beautiful yellow flowers outside but they were in a part of the property that was inaccessible to me. “We'll bring you some,” they said, and soon came in with a fistful of dandelions. They thought they were pranking me and I laughed. In reality, I am a dandelion lover. They are beautiful, bees like them, and most of all they are supremely confident, resilient and hardy. They remind me of my polio friends. We also thrive where we are not necessarily appreciated. We also are adaptable and have learned to thrive in places and conditions that are not exactly optimum.

I put this pitiful little bouquet in a paper cup and brought it home. Frankly, I didn’t think they would survive. They drooped over the side of the cup, apparently having given up the struggle. I filled the cup with water anyway and set it on the counter. In a day or so, the droopiness was beginning to give way. First one, then another of the flower stems, still with blossoms tightly closed, began to stand up.

Now, almost a week later, all the dandelions have become erect. This behavior is so like us, isn't it? Polio tried its best to make us droop over the sides, give up in despair.

We didn't though, did we? No, we adapted to the best of our ability even though it took us a while and was not easy. We will continue to bloom where we are planted.

We will continue to be a beautiful if unusual group. We will survive!

All we need is determination and maybe a little sip of water now and then in the way of encouragement.

Millie Malone Lill, Polio Perspective - April, 2025