The dandelions are out in abundance.

Dandelions always remind me of a gorgeous spring day my last year in Pennsylvania, when Erin and I were driving to Bellefonte for lunch at Schnitzel’s Tavern (RIP, I hear). We passed this huge, gorgeous field of dandelions, and Led Zeppelin’s “When the Levee Breaks” came on the radio. If you know this song, you know it has a very, very long intro. For some reason, Erin started singing “Summer in the City” (Lovin’ Spoonful, but the Butthole Surfers do a great cover) in a slowed-down, minor key during that intro, and it worked. We got through most of the song before Robert Plant started wailing about rain and levees breaking. She laughed at me for knowing all the lyrics to “Summer in the City”; even people who know me well are amazed what I do and don’t know of pop culture. (Still haven’t seen Ghostbusters but can quote all the lyrics to every Beach Boys hit.)

Anyway, we were happy in that way you are when you feel like things are going to get better and your life is going to keep getting more exciting, and it’s spring, and you’re with a good friend and laughing for no reason except you’re happy.

I don’t think Erin remembers this (she has three kids under age four, so she has a few other things on her mind) but I always think of it when I see dandelions.

Irony: “When the Levee Breaks” reminds me of New Orleans and Hurricane Katrina now.