Friday night
I was seated in a diner in New Jersey, where two tables had been added, end to end, to a booth. Bruce Springsteen and his friend, Southside Johnny Lyon, were also sitting there, among a group of ordinary working people and regular customers. We were all there to listen to a guest speaker, who was leading a discussion about being healthy in middle age. The speaker began, "We can't do anything about the past. How do we move forward?" He wanted everyone to think about what he said as they ate their meals, and there would be more discussion later. I looked down to the end of the middle table (where it butted up against the booth) and saw that Springsteen was standing up, hunched over, signing an autograph for someone. I figured that this was my chance to ask him a question about one of his songs that had always puzzled me. I walked over and stood across from him, with the table between us, and said, "Can I ask you a question?" He said, "OK, but quickly, because I have a lot I want to say [to the group]." I leaned closer and looked him in the eye, with my hands on the table for support. I said, "Reason to Believe..." He looked a little exasperated, as if he didn't have time to go into great detail, and he cut me off. He said, "It's Luke. It's LUKE." Undeterred, I began to quote the lyrics: "Take a baby to the river / Kyle William they called him / Wash the baby in the water / take away little Kyle's sin / In a whitewash shotgun shack an old man passes away / Take the body to the graveyard / and over him they pray..." "So," I said, "Is the old man who dies Kyle William, or is he someone else?"
I woke up before he answered.
*****
This question didn't originate with me. Gordon and I were talking about Springsteen years ago, and he said that if he ever had the chance to meet him, he'd ask him about that song. I must have filed it away. I was thinking about Gordon yesterday, about time, distance, friendship.
I'm assuming that Springsteen was telling me that there's a passage in the book of Luke that inspired him to write, or would explain, "Reason to Believe." I'm not sure where I got that idea. Then again, I may have been thinking about my nephew Luke, back in Virginia.
The speaker's statement echoes something my mom said to me in 1996: "What is in the past you have no control over; it's done. There's no point in regretting it, although I know some of us do. You can't help it. And we don't know what we have tomorrow, so we ought to deal with today the best we know how. But I think because we have such a sense of time and our own immortality, that we may not always use it to the best advantage."
Lord, won't you tell us / Tell us what does it mean / At the end of every hard earned day people find some reason to believe
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Off-Course
Thursday night
My brother Andrew and I had been invited to a party and were ready to head over when I said, "Why don't we fly?" I began to levitate from my standing-still position, and said, "Have you ever known anyone else who could do this?" He hadn't, and he couldn't do it, either. I told him to hang on, and he'd be all right. Soon we were aloft. I was lying prone, facing into the wind, a la Superman, but had my arms out at my sides, with finger tips outstretched in best hawk-like fashion, with Drew in tow. Unfortunately, a few minutes into the flight I got cocky, and wondered how well I'd be able to steer with my eyes shut. We promptly slammed into the crown of a tree. I apologized to Drew and we took off again. After a few minutes I grew tired, and in spite of my best efforts to stay awake, I fell asleep. Shortly thereafter, we hit another tree. At that point, Drew said, "I'd just as soon drive."
*****
Another fun dream about flying, except for the crashes, following "The Eye in the Sky" (11/13/07), "Flying" (7/10/07) and another one from June 2007, mentioned in the notes at the end of "Flying." All of these dreams seem so real and natural; there's no fear whatsoever. Then again, birds aren't afraid to fly, are they?
My wife and I recently finished watching the marvelous BBC documentary series "Planet Earth." A brief making-of piece is tacked on at the end of each episode, and one such featurette told the story of a Frenchman who had rigged a chair to a hot air balloon which he steered with a handle attached to a metal rudder. The chair was just wide enough for the "pilot" to squeeze in next to the photographer, a tall, very droll Brit, who, as it happened, was afraid of heights. After securing assurances from the Frenchman that he could control the balloon, the two of them took off, and promptly flew straight into a tree. Both of us just about bust a gut laughing, particularly when the Frenchman was back on solid ground, saying, "I'm so stoopeed!" over and over. After getting someone to solder the exhaust system back together and after cutting part of the (unbroken) section of the rudder, in order to even it out, the pair finally took off again, only to find out immediately that they had less control than they had before. The segment ended with the two of them hitting another tree. It seems pretty obvious to me that that's why we flew into trees twice in this dream.
The bit about Andrew clinging to me seems to be lifted from Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," when the Ghost of Christmas Present bade Scrooge to touch his robe in order to be transported.
Incidentally, this is the first time that I can remember dreaming that I was asleep.
My brother Andrew and I had been invited to a party and were ready to head over when I said, "Why don't we fly?" I began to levitate from my standing-still position, and said, "Have you ever known anyone else who could do this?" He hadn't, and he couldn't do it, either. I told him to hang on, and he'd be all right. Soon we were aloft. I was lying prone, facing into the wind, a la Superman, but had my arms out at my sides, with finger tips outstretched in best hawk-like fashion, with Drew in tow. Unfortunately, a few minutes into the flight I got cocky, and wondered how well I'd be able to steer with my eyes shut. We promptly slammed into the crown of a tree. I apologized to Drew and we took off again. After a few minutes I grew tired, and in spite of my best efforts to stay awake, I fell asleep. Shortly thereafter, we hit another tree. At that point, Drew said, "I'd just as soon drive."
*****
Another fun dream about flying, except for the crashes, following "The Eye in the Sky" (11/13/07), "Flying" (7/10/07) and another one from June 2007, mentioned in the notes at the end of "Flying." All of these dreams seem so real and natural; there's no fear whatsoever. Then again, birds aren't afraid to fly, are they?
My wife and I recently finished watching the marvelous BBC documentary series "Planet Earth." A brief making-of piece is tacked on at the end of each episode, and one such featurette told the story of a Frenchman who had rigged a chair to a hot air balloon which he steered with a handle attached to a metal rudder. The chair was just wide enough for the "pilot" to squeeze in next to the photographer, a tall, very droll Brit, who, as it happened, was afraid of heights. After securing assurances from the Frenchman that he could control the balloon, the two of them took off, and promptly flew straight into a tree. Both of us just about bust a gut laughing, particularly when the Frenchman was back on solid ground, saying, "I'm so stoopeed!" over and over. After getting someone to solder the exhaust system back together and after cutting part of the (unbroken) section of the rudder, in order to even it out, the pair finally took off again, only to find out immediately that they had less control than they had before. The segment ended with the two of them hitting another tree. It seems pretty obvious to me that that's why we flew into trees twice in this dream.
The bit about Andrew clinging to me seems to be lifted from Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," when the Ghost of Christmas Present bade Scrooge to touch his robe in order to be transported.
Incidentally, this is the first time that I can remember dreaming that I was asleep.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Mad Dash / Nick's on Tour
Thursday night
Dream 1: Mad Dash
My old boss, Christy, and I were in an office, sorting through a large stack of forms, and were gossiping about one of my current coworkers, Samantha H., who has twice said that she was going to leave, and then decided to stay. Christy smiled and said, "What's up with that?" At that moment, a man arrived behind us, and announced, "It's 10:55!" I looked down at my pocket watch and saw that it was about a half hour slow. Christy and I ran out of the room and were joined by a large crowd, all headed down the hallway to try to cram into a large glass elevator. We all had a flight to catch. During the melee some folks, including a young Asian boy, were roughly pushed out of the way. I got to to the elevator just as it was closing, but was just able to reach the button, and got the doors to open again. I walked inside, and overheard one of the inhabitants, a tall, thin British man, say "I had the funniest dream last night. Holly Hunter was singing [Donna Summer's] 'Last Dance.'"
Dream 2: Nick's on Tour
Nick Lowe was touring America again, and a single had been released off of his new album, and it was doing very well in the charts. I had a ticket to see him at my former high school in Arlington.
*****
Dream 1: Mad Dash
I enjoyed working for Christy. I haven't seen her since April 2005. The person we were discussing, Samantha, really has said that she was quitting my current employer twice. We recently watched our DVD of the hilarious Coen Brothers movie "Raising Arizona," which features Nic Cage, Holly Hunter and John Goodman.
Dream 2: Nick's on Tour
Nick is coming to Nashville next month. He's an old favorite.
Dream 1: Mad Dash
My old boss, Christy, and I were in an office, sorting through a large stack of forms, and were gossiping about one of my current coworkers, Samantha H., who has twice said that she was going to leave, and then decided to stay. Christy smiled and said, "What's up with that?" At that moment, a man arrived behind us, and announced, "It's 10:55!" I looked down at my pocket watch and saw that it was about a half hour slow. Christy and I ran out of the room and were joined by a large crowd, all headed down the hallway to try to cram into a large glass elevator. We all had a flight to catch. During the melee some folks, including a young Asian boy, were roughly pushed out of the way. I got to to the elevator just as it was closing, but was just able to reach the button, and got the doors to open again. I walked inside, and overheard one of the inhabitants, a tall, thin British man, say "I had the funniest dream last night. Holly Hunter was singing [Donna Summer's] 'Last Dance.'"
Dream 2: Nick's on Tour
Nick Lowe was touring America again, and a single had been released off of his new album, and it was doing very well in the charts. I had a ticket to see him at my former high school in Arlington.
*****
Dream 1: Mad Dash
I enjoyed working for Christy. I haven't seen her since April 2005. The person we were discussing, Samantha, really has said that she was quitting my current employer twice. We recently watched our DVD of the hilarious Coen Brothers movie "Raising Arizona," which features Nic Cage, Holly Hunter and John Goodman.
Dream 2: Nick's on Tour
Nick is coming to Nashville next month. He's an old favorite.
This Is the Modern World
Wednesday night
My wife and I were visiting our nieces and nephews in Virginia, and I had given the kids a special metal train. Not only did it move, but it had sought out their wooden toys and destroyed them. Their dad, Jim, saw it in action, and was outraged and angry. He turned around and said, "WHO GAVE THIS TO THEM?!"
*****
These kids are being brought up in a very strict Catholic household, and are home-schooled. They can't watch TV unless it's a video approved by their parents; they aren't allowed to Trick-or-Treat on Halloween, and now the three girls are forced to wear "Little House on the Prairie"-style dresses. In other words, they aren't allowed to wear jeans. Ever. I see this dream as their aunt and uncle trying their best to sneak in a little corrupting influence for their own good.
The last time their family visited us here, there were a few occasions when my wife and I had a couple of the kids in the car. We played Springsteen's "Born to Run" CD for them. I hope it sunk in a little bit.
My wife and I were visiting our nieces and nephews in Virginia, and I had given the kids a special metal train. Not only did it move, but it had sought out their wooden toys and destroyed them. Their dad, Jim, saw it in action, and was outraged and angry. He turned around and said, "WHO GAVE THIS TO THEM?!"
*****
These kids are being brought up in a very strict Catholic household, and are home-schooled. They can't watch TV unless it's a video approved by their parents; they aren't allowed to Trick-or-Treat on Halloween, and now the three girls are forced to wear "Little House on the Prairie"-style dresses. In other words, they aren't allowed to wear jeans. Ever. I see this dream as their aunt and uncle trying their best to sneak in a little corrupting influence for their own good.
The last time their family visited us here, there were a few occasions when my wife and I had a couple of the kids in the car. We played Springsteen's "Born to Run" CD for them. I hope it sunk in a little bit.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Whip It!
Monday night
A crowd had gathered in what looked like a small apartment, and they were in a celebratory mood; actor Scott Glenn and I were about to duel with bullwhips over a woman. Glenn was dressed appropriately, in Western gear complete with dark hat, but one of the onlookers, my poker buddy Jim B., and I were both dressed in idiotic 1980s jackets which were covered in zippers.
*****
I recently watched my DVD of "Silence of the Lambs," which featured Scott Glenn as Clarice Starling's boss, Jack Crawford. This dream hearkens back to Glenn's role as "Wes" in "Urban Cowboy," and mixes it up with the trailer I watched yesterday for the fourth "Indiana Jones" movie. I'm not sure about those jackets, though.
A crowd had gathered in what looked like a small apartment, and they were in a celebratory mood; actor Scott Glenn and I were about to duel with bullwhips over a woman. Glenn was dressed appropriately, in Western gear complete with dark hat, but one of the onlookers, my poker buddy Jim B., and I were both dressed in idiotic 1980s jackets which were covered in zippers.
*****
I recently watched my DVD of "Silence of the Lambs," which featured Scott Glenn as Clarice Starling's boss, Jack Crawford. This dream hearkens back to Glenn's role as "Wes" in "Urban Cowboy," and mixes it up with the trailer I watched yesterday for the fourth "Indiana Jones" movie. I'm not sure about those jackets, though.
Campaign
Sunday night
My employer came up with a new way to get customers to spend some money, and it would involve portraits of women from the National Gallery of Art. The deal went like this: a potential advertiser could choose one female portrait from its collection to appear in an ad, but some portraits cost more than others. The cheapest ads featured blonde-haired women; brunettes were in the mid-range, and redheads cost the most.
*****
The idea behind the pricing structure was not that blondes are worthless, or "cheap," but since one sees blondes all the time, those pictures cost less. Redheads are more of a rarity in the population, so their pictures cost more.
My employer came up with a new way to get customers to spend some money, and it would involve portraits of women from the National Gallery of Art. The deal went like this: a potential advertiser could choose one female portrait from its collection to appear in an ad, but some portraits cost more than others. The cheapest ads featured blonde-haired women; brunettes were in the mid-range, and redheads cost the most.
*****
The idea behind the pricing structure was not that blondes are worthless, or "cheap," but since one sees blondes all the time, those pictures cost less. Redheads are more of a rarity in the population, so their pictures cost more.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
February 2008 Dream Roundup
A few political figures made appearances last month. 'Tis the season...
Family & Friends:
My wife
Andrew C.
Barbara S.
Dad C. (I borrowed his car in "Crash")
Dawn B.
Ed B.
Eddie M.
Gordon S.
Mom C.
Preston W.
Steve S.
Acquaintances & Coworkers:
Carlos A.
Elfi F.
Maurice F.
Rod S.
Celebrities:
Amy Carter
Bob Marley (Preston owned a biography of him in "Trying to Break Free")
Fountains of Wayne (as their alter-egos in "The Roosters")
Franklin Delano Roosevelt (I saw his White House bedroom in "What's Left")
Hank Williams Sr.
Jimmy Carter
Joe Perry (of Aerosmith)
John Entwhistle
John Mellencamp (mentioned in "Get Me Outta Here")
Pete Townshend
Robert F. Kennedy (had written a volume of the Churchill biography found in FDR's room in "What's Left")
Roger Daltrey
Rosalynn Carter
Steven Tyler (of Aerosmith)
Sting
Winston Churchill (Biographies of Churchill were seen in FDR's room in "What's Left")
Family & Friends:
My wife
Andrew C.
Barbara S.
Dad C. (I borrowed his car in "Crash")
Dawn B.
Ed B.
Eddie M.
Gordon S.
Mom C.
Preston W.
Steve S.
Acquaintances & Coworkers:
Carlos A.
Elfi F.
Maurice F.
Rod S.
Celebrities:
Amy Carter
Bob Marley (Preston owned a biography of him in "Trying to Break Free")
Fountains of Wayne (as their alter-egos in "The Roosters")
Franklin Delano Roosevelt (I saw his White House bedroom in "What's Left")
Hank Williams Sr.
Jimmy Carter
Joe Perry (of Aerosmith)
John Entwhistle
John Mellencamp (mentioned in "Get Me Outta Here")
Pete Townshend
Robert F. Kennedy (had written a volume of the Churchill biography found in FDR's room in "What's Left")
Roger Daltrey
Rosalynn Carter
Steven Tyler (of Aerosmith)
Sting
Winston Churchill (Biographies of Churchill were seen in FDR's room in "What's Left")
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