Striking A Chord

At my school, in choir, we do a "song of the day." Every quarter, each person has to present a song and speak about it. It could be meaningful and resonate with you. Or, it could be a fun song you really enjoy. Whatever it is, you talk about it, and then that is the first thing we listen to in class that day.

So far this school year, if a song has stood out to me, I wrote it down. Usually, it was a song I recognized but didn't know the name of or forgotten about it entirely. This article is inspired by a song that was of the latter. It was the first time in a long time that I had heard it, and it really struck a chord with me (music pun intended!).

Ever since I was little, I’ve loved music and it’s always been there for me -- from the Norah Jones my mom put on so I would stop crying to playing DJ in the car. This is probably why I have been a part of musicals and choir as much as I could through every school I’ve been to (7), and every move I’ve had (9) since elementary school.

Over the past 18 years, music has been a huge part of my life even when nothing else seemed to last. It’s brought me to some of my closest friends and is the first place I go to when I'm sad, stressed, or just need to think. It holds a lot of memories specific to the time when I first heard the song or first added it to a playlist (similar to how I associate memories to where I was living instead of my age). 

This particular song, although it doesn't intend to, sums up and represents military life pretty well. It may not mention April being the Month of the Military Child or how important the color purple is, but whenever I hear it, I immediately think of military life and everything I've gained and lost from it. The song I’m talking about is Dandelions by Ruth B. Let me break it down for you:

I’m in a field of Dandelions

This line is the most obvious when it comes to the connection between the song and military teens. We are commonly compared to and described as dandelions. Even if we aren't always surrounded by others, they are still connected to us in an imaginary field connected by duty station, friendships, and even places like Bloom where we can all “bloom where we are planted.”

I’ve lived all over the place -- from the big Navy hotspots you generally think of like San Diego (twice) and Norfolk, to less common duty stations like Singapore and Pittsburgh. But no matter where I am, I’m still a dandelion.

But it's so good, I've never known anybody like you

But it's so good, I've never dreamed of nobody like you

Cause I'm in a field of dandelions

Wishing on every one that you'd be mine, mine

Currently being stationed in Singapore for the second time has been like a dream come true. When we left Singapore the summer after I turned nine, I thought I’d have to wait until well into my adult life to come back. 

I talked about Singapore every chance I could, whether that be social studies reports or my go-to ice breaker. My family frequently expressed how badly we all wanted to come back, and how much we missed little things, like our favorite restaurants and foods we couldn't get at a grocery store in the states. 

I never expected that six years later, my family would get stationed here for a second time and for long enough that both my younger brother and I would get to graduate high school.

And I see forever in your eyes

The longest I’ve ever lived anywhere consecutively is three years, and that was in the most unexpected of duty stations for my family but quickly became one of our favorites. It was the first place that truly felt like home and was the place I miss the most.

The military has taught me to appreciate everything then and there, not just experiencing appreciation for when things are gone. I’ve learned what I want for my future and where I want to be. It’s because of the Navy and the snowball it put into motion that I met my best friends and fell in love with the university I’m going to in the fall. 

When you're looking at me, I've never felt so alive and free

When you're looking at me, I've never felt so happy

The Navy has thrown some curveballs, and I’ve learned to expect the unexpected. But, some of the randomness is just what I needed. I love my life, and I can’t imagine anything different.

All of these ideas put together made me realize just how much Dandelions means to me and what it could mean for all fellow dandelions stationed elsewhere. In focusing on the lyrics in choir that day, I realized just how much this song means to me, stirring up emotions and memories of my dandelion life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8a4sUabCUo