Wednesday night, July 30, 2008, in Maine
The Andy Griffith Show's Aunt Bee was marrying some young stud with black hair. He was under the impression that he was supposed to make some speech outside, behind the church, when I realized that everyone was inside, waiting to begin; we were holding up the proceedings. We entered the back of the church and ran full speed down long corridors before the groom entered the church itself, and sprinted down the aisle (from the altar to the front entrance), all the while to the applause of the guests. He entered a room where Aunt Bee was and shut the door, but he must have asked her to have sex with him then and there, because I heard her say in an embarrassed voice, "Jeffrey! On a Saturday?!"
*****
Friday, August 15, 2008
In & Out / Castles Made of Sand / Thugs
Monday night, July 28, in Maine
Dream 1: In & Out
The Police were playing an arena show on their current reunion tour, and they had asked me to join them for the evening. I think I was the second guitarist. When the show ended, I glanced over at Sting and said, "No encore?" He said, "No, that's it." I followed them down a corridor to their dressing room, where I saw lots of fresh meat and fish laid out for them on the counters, resting on tin foil. I was impressed, and exclaimed, "Look at this!" Then I noticed my boss, Jennie S., standing and waiting for the band.
Dream 2: Castles Made of Sand
I was making a sand castle at the beach, and was digging a hole underneath that got deeper and deeper. As I did so, I had an idea: maybe sand castles could be used as forts for our military personnel. Tom Brokaw heard about my plan, and came out with a camera crew, to test the walls of my creation for durability.
Dream 3: Thugs
I was preparing for another card game in my parents' basement, and a few friends had already arrived. Suddenly, a 1950s-era Frank Sinatra strolled in through the basement door, with one of his tough guys -- apparently he was Sinatra's bodyguard. This guy was a real goon, right out of 1940s mob movie central casting. Frank's appearance turned me off, and I said, "I don't feel like playing." I turned around and placed an L.P. on my stereo. Sinatra was annoyed, but he got the hint. He said, "O.K., we'll only play ONE HAND." Everyone sat down at the table as Frank dealt the cards.
*****
Dream 1: In & Out
The Police were playing an arena show on their current reunion tour, and they had asked me to join them for the evening. I think I was the second guitarist. When the show ended, I glanced over at Sting and said, "No encore?" He said, "No, that's it." I followed them down a corridor to their dressing room, where I saw lots of fresh meat and fish laid out for them on the counters, resting on tin foil. I was impressed, and exclaimed, "Look at this!" Then I noticed my boss, Jennie S., standing and waiting for the band.
Dream 2: Castles Made of Sand
I was making a sand castle at the beach, and was digging a hole underneath that got deeper and deeper. As I did so, I had an idea: maybe sand castles could be used as forts for our military personnel. Tom Brokaw heard about my plan, and came out with a camera crew, to test the walls of my creation for durability.
Dream 3: Thugs
I was preparing for another card game in my parents' basement, and a few friends had already arrived. Suddenly, a 1950s-era Frank Sinatra strolled in through the basement door, with one of his tough guys -- apparently he was Sinatra's bodyguard. This guy was a real goon, right out of 1940s mob movie central casting. Frank's appearance turned me off, and I said, "I don't feel like playing." I turned around and placed an L.P. on my stereo. Sinatra was annoyed, but he got the hint. He said, "O.K., we'll only play ONE HAND." Everyone sat down at the table as Frank dealt the cards.
*****
Ill Gotten Gains
Wednesday night, July 22
Some pretty rough-looking characters were involved in a poker game, and there was a lot of money on the table. One of them, Robert De Niro, turned out to be an undercover cop, who busted the rest. At the end of the day, he wasn't much better than the other guys; I saw him grab fistfuls of cash and stuff them between the buttons of his long, black winter coat.
*****
Some pretty rough-looking characters were involved in a poker game, and there was a lot of money on the table. One of them, Robert De Niro, turned out to be an undercover cop, who busted the rest. At the end of the day, he wasn't much better than the other guys; I saw him grab fistfuls of cash and stuff them between the buttons of his long, black winter coat.
*****
Designing Woman
Tuesday night, July 21
I'd heard that my old friend Denise was working at a business in Falls Church, so I thought I'd look her up. I walked in and said, "Is Denise P. here?" She said, "Yes, she works here; she designs couches." She wasn't in at the moment.
*****
I think Denise has a new last name, hence the P. I still haven't seen her since she was 18. She turned 40 last May.
I'd heard that my old friend Denise was working at a business in Falls Church, so I thought I'd look her up. I walked in and said, "Is Denise P. here?" She said, "Yes, she works here; she designs couches." She wasn't in at the moment.
*****
I think Denise has a new last name, hence the P. I still haven't seen her since she was 18. She turned 40 last May.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Pink House
Sunday night, July 19
It was wintertime, and I was in Summerville, South Carolina. There was no snow of course, but it was plenty cold, particulary because it was nighttime. I was staring up at my aunt's large house, still clad in boards, still standing at the end of South Magnolia Street, as it has since the 1840s. Its appearance had recently changed a great deal. No longer was the home painted white with the familiar black shutters; now it was painted a garish hot pink, with purple shutters. My aunt still lived there, but most of the building had been converted to a hotel. As I pondered all of this, a fast, nearly frozen stream rushed along nearby, practically under my feet.
I went inside, and the place was brimming with noise and confusion. Many of my cousins and other family members were there for a family wedding, and I wasn't sure where I was supposed to be, or what was happening next. Several of them passed by me near the concierge desk. They were all dressed in black formal attire, and were apparently heading out for a celebratory dinner or some other important event that I should attend, if I only knew what or where it was. I looked down and noticed that although I had the proper black pants and sport coat, I was wearing a loose, short-sleeved cotton button-down shirt made in India, which (to me, anyway) was dyed a very pleasing light aqua color. Right shirt; wrong occasion.
Suddenly everyone else had walked out the door, and I didn't know what to do next. I didn't know where to go to catch them, and I didn't know my room number at the hotel. I decided to walk around to the other side of the house (on the main floor) and sat down to collect my thoughts. My dad found me there and sat down across from me. He had a stern look on his face, and demanded to know why I wasn't where I was supposed to be, with the rest of the family.
*****
Dad was thinner in this dream; more reminiscent of the way he looked in early 1960s. In fact, it's odd that I dream of Dad appearing in a way that I don't remember at all, at least not consciously. (Then again, maybe that's the point. In dreams, one's subconscious comes out to play.) Dad was beginning to put on some weight by 1966 or so, and got much heavier after he quit smoking in the early 1970s. My brother Jimmie would have much stronger memories of a thinner Dad.
By the way, I love that aqua shirt. I wore it the other night while my wife and I strolled around the neighborhood.
It was wintertime, and I was in Summerville, South Carolina. There was no snow of course, but it was plenty cold, particulary because it was nighttime. I was staring up at my aunt's large house, still clad in boards, still standing at the end of South Magnolia Street, as it has since the 1840s. Its appearance had recently changed a great deal. No longer was the home painted white with the familiar black shutters; now it was painted a garish hot pink, with purple shutters. My aunt still lived there, but most of the building had been converted to a hotel. As I pondered all of this, a fast, nearly frozen stream rushed along nearby, practically under my feet.
I went inside, and the place was brimming with noise and confusion. Many of my cousins and other family members were there for a family wedding, and I wasn't sure where I was supposed to be, or what was happening next. Several of them passed by me near the concierge desk. They were all dressed in black formal attire, and were apparently heading out for a celebratory dinner or some other important event that I should attend, if I only knew what or where it was. I looked down and noticed that although I had the proper black pants and sport coat, I was wearing a loose, short-sleeved cotton button-down shirt made in India, which (to me, anyway) was dyed a very pleasing light aqua color. Right shirt; wrong occasion.
Suddenly everyone else had walked out the door, and I didn't know what to do next. I didn't know where to go to catch them, and I didn't know my room number at the hotel. I decided to walk around to the other side of the house (on the main floor) and sat down to collect my thoughts. My dad found me there and sat down across from me. He had a stern look on his face, and demanded to know why I wasn't where I was supposed to be, with the rest of the family.
*****
Dad was thinner in this dream; more reminiscent of the way he looked in early 1960s. In fact, it's odd that I dream of Dad appearing in a way that I don't remember at all, at least not consciously. (Then again, maybe that's the point. In dreams, one's subconscious comes out to play.) Dad was beginning to put on some weight by 1966 or so, and got much heavier after he quit smoking in the early 1970s. My brother Jimmie would have much stronger memories of a thinner Dad.
By the way, I love that aqua shirt. I wore it the other night while my wife and I strolled around the neighborhood.
Black and White World
Friday night, July 17
My brother Jimmie was staying in my old bedroom and Mom and Dad's house, and I went up there to visit him. In fact, his bed occupied the same space mine did, long ago. As I approached him, I noticed that he'd set up his stuff, just so, and there were a few surprises. I began to notice several black and white pictures in black frames. They weren't photographs; instead, they appeared to be silhouettes -- some of which Jimmie had made. I was intrigued. The first one I noticed was a picture of a hand, rendered in black, on a stark white background. I said, "I really like this." He said, "I made it." Looking around, I saw another neat picture, this one a very dark brown image of a coffee cup, and a few rings or spills for good measure. I asked him if he'd made that one, too. He said that he hadn't; he thought he'd seen it in a magazine. In fact, he didn't know where he'd gotten it, but he'd found it somewhere along the way, and kept it.
*****
Jimmie always had a good eye, and experimented with photography starting back when he was quite young. I especially like some of his black and white work.
And I've often clipped images that I really liked from magazines. I still find them filed away, years after the fact.
My brother Jimmie was staying in my old bedroom and Mom and Dad's house, and I went up there to visit him. In fact, his bed occupied the same space mine did, long ago. As I approached him, I noticed that he'd set up his stuff, just so, and there were a few surprises. I began to notice several black and white pictures in black frames. They weren't photographs; instead, they appeared to be silhouettes -- some of which Jimmie had made. I was intrigued. The first one I noticed was a picture of a hand, rendered in black, on a stark white background. I said, "I really like this." He said, "I made it." Looking around, I saw another neat picture, this one a very dark brown image of a coffee cup, and a few rings or spills for good measure. I asked him if he'd made that one, too. He said that he hadn't; he thought he'd seen it in a magazine. In fact, he didn't know where he'd gotten it, but he'd found it somewhere along the way, and kept it.
*****
Jimmie always had a good eye, and experimented with photography starting back when he was quite young. I especially like some of his black and white work.
And I've often clipped images that I really liked from magazines. I still find them filed away, years after the fact.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
The Pool / It's Just a Haircut
Monday night, 7/14/08
Dream 1: The Pool
My employer had embarked on a new money-making venture, assuming co-ownership of an amusement park and encouraging trade groups to spend time and money there. They had placed one of their managers, Shannon F., in charge. My wife and I went to check it out one day. I saw a large swimming pool, deep on the side to our far left, shallow to our right. We stood on the edge, next to a sliding board that deposited revelers directly into the water. A row of booths stood across from us on the other side of the pool, where vendors sold trinkets, T-shirts and food, and many more rides were back behind us. Some of my coworkers and some old friends of mine were milling about. I saw Shannon walk past me and say to someone, "We've had about 50 groups in already." My wife and I proceeded toward the shallow part of the pool, and got in at the far right edge, enough to get our feet wet. We, and a few other adults, were wearing plastic shoes -- the type that they sometimes sell at your fancy-shmancy upscale groceries. Anyway, as we walked over, I noticed that a familiar song was being piped through the sound system. It was a tune by ABBA, but it was a contemporary cover by a young country singer. When we got into the shallow water, our friend (and real estate agent) Kelly K. was standing to our right. She was wearing a light brown T-shirt with the "shadow" of an oval sticker on the top right. It appeared that she might have worn a name tag there long ago. I glanced around and noticed Jennifer A., a coworker who had actually just left my employer. I began to think to myself, "I wonder how many of these people I'll never see again?" when my wife broke the silence. She turned to me and said, "You can go look for any Hot Wheels you don't have, but there's NO WAY..." (meaning that if I happened to find late 60s or early 70s originals, if they were selling for outrageous prices, that expenditure would not be covered in, or sanctioned from, our family budget).
Dream 2: It's Just a Haircut
Johnny Cash was dead, but his wife, June, still owned their property, and had developed much of it into a theme park. There was a large central lake for swimming and boat rides, as well as a picnic area and all sorts of trains, large and small. I noticed that she had sold some land off to our left, behind the lake, where a tract of townhouses had been erected recently.
I was visiting the park with my brother Andrew, my friend Steve S., and Steve's son, Nicky. Nick was about 10 years old, and he was a free spirit. He had a pretty wild head of brown hair, and he had actually started sprouting the wisps of a beard. he needed a haircut. It would be my job to chase him down and hold him, while my brother did the deed. I saw Drew checking his scissors in the sunlight, no doubt making sure that they were sharp and ready.
Soon the chase was on, but before long I could tell that Nick didn't think it was fun, or funny. He was very upset; not angry, but distraught, and he wanted to talk about it. His dad wasn't around, but I sat down facing him, and listened to his story. Andrew sat at my right. At one point someone behind us started playing some familiar Beach Boys recordings, and Drew was distracted. He turned around and said, "Yeah -- that's good!" I motioned for him to pay attention, but soon we were interrupted again, when we had to move to make way for a caravan of miniature cars that was passing through. One of them was being driven by a cat.
Nicky explained that he didn't want a haircut because he already had a tough enough time fitting in with the kids at school. Some of his friends drank alcohol, and it made him uncomfortable, so he was already estranged because of that. A haircut would only make matters worse.
*****
Dream 2: It's Just a Haircut
I last saw Nick when he was probably about 6. I'm not sure how old he is now. I like him a lot, but know next to nothing about him these days. I have corresponded with his dad, Steve, a little in the past week, so that's undoubtedly why Steve and Nick showed up here. Johnny & June Cash used to own a large house on a lake in Hendersonville, TN, but never developed it into a park. In fact, June died shortly before Johnny did; about 5 years ago now.
By the way, I'm the one who needs the haircut.
Dream 1: The Pool
My employer had embarked on a new money-making venture, assuming co-ownership of an amusement park and encouraging trade groups to spend time and money there. They had placed one of their managers, Shannon F., in charge. My wife and I went to check it out one day. I saw a large swimming pool, deep on the side to our far left, shallow to our right. We stood on the edge, next to a sliding board that deposited revelers directly into the water. A row of booths stood across from us on the other side of the pool, where vendors sold trinkets, T-shirts and food, and many more rides were back behind us. Some of my coworkers and some old friends of mine were milling about. I saw Shannon walk past me and say to someone, "We've had about 50 groups in already." My wife and I proceeded toward the shallow part of the pool, and got in at the far right edge, enough to get our feet wet. We, and a few other adults, were wearing plastic shoes -- the type that they sometimes sell at your fancy-shmancy upscale groceries. Anyway, as we walked over, I noticed that a familiar song was being piped through the sound system. It was a tune by ABBA, but it was a contemporary cover by a young country singer. When we got into the shallow water, our friend (and real estate agent) Kelly K. was standing to our right. She was wearing a light brown T-shirt with the "shadow" of an oval sticker on the top right. It appeared that she might have worn a name tag there long ago. I glanced around and noticed Jennifer A., a coworker who had actually just left my employer. I began to think to myself, "I wonder how many of these people I'll never see again?" when my wife broke the silence. She turned to me and said, "You can go look for any Hot Wheels you don't have, but there's NO WAY..." (meaning that if I happened to find late 60s or early 70s originals, if they were selling for outrageous prices, that expenditure would not be covered in, or sanctioned from, our family budget).
Dream 2: It's Just a Haircut
Johnny Cash was dead, but his wife, June, still owned their property, and had developed much of it into a theme park. There was a large central lake for swimming and boat rides, as well as a picnic area and all sorts of trains, large and small. I noticed that she had sold some land off to our left, behind the lake, where a tract of townhouses had been erected recently.
I was visiting the park with my brother Andrew, my friend Steve S., and Steve's son, Nicky. Nick was about 10 years old, and he was a free spirit. He had a pretty wild head of brown hair, and he had actually started sprouting the wisps of a beard. he needed a haircut. It would be my job to chase him down and hold him, while my brother did the deed. I saw Drew checking his scissors in the sunlight, no doubt making sure that they were sharp and ready.
Soon the chase was on, but before long I could tell that Nick didn't think it was fun, or funny. He was very upset; not angry, but distraught, and he wanted to talk about it. His dad wasn't around, but I sat down facing him, and listened to his story. Andrew sat at my right. At one point someone behind us started playing some familiar Beach Boys recordings, and Drew was distracted. He turned around and said, "Yeah -- that's good!" I motioned for him to pay attention, but soon we were interrupted again, when we had to move to make way for a caravan of miniature cars that was passing through. One of them was being driven by a cat.
Nicky explained that he didn't want a haircut because he already had a tough enough time fitting in with the kids at school. Some of his friends drank alcohol, and it made him uncomfortable, so he was already estranged because of that. A haircut would only make matters worse.
*****
Dream 2: It's Just a Haircut
I last saw Nick when he was probably about 6. I'm not sure how old he is now. I like him a lot, but know next to nothing about him these days. I have corresponded with his dad, Steve, a little in the past week, so that's undoubtedly why Steve and Nick showed up here. Johnny & June Cash used to own a large house on a lake in Hendersonville, TN, but never developed it into a park. In fact, June died shortly before Johnny did; about 5 years ago now.
By the way, I'm the one who needs the haircut.
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