BobW

Fall 2008, seventeen years since that date. If Susan has appeared in dreams, they've gone unremembered. Now ...

Some sort of a get-together in a convention or community center. I'm standing off on the fringes, away from the cocktail crowd, when I'm grabbed in a side hug and turn my head to see who...

She looks her age.

She makes it look spectacular.

"I'm running!", she says, with that smile I remember from a Hot Shoppes lot...

In both the dream and waking worlds it is January 1991, Washington, D. C, Over four waking world years later, 21 dream world years.

Mild day, a low and darkening overcast. I'm standing on the walk in front of the Chinese restaurant at Wisconsin Avenue and Chesapeake Street N. W. It's half of a duplex, probably built about the turn of the century. Stucco over wood, it like most of the buildings in the block began as a home above/shop below. Who knows how many tenants have...

"Real" World Time: September 22nd 1986, just short of nine months after I began keeping a dream diary.

I step out onto the balcony as I put on my hat, its bill as mirror-shined as my shoes - then lean against the railing and am quite happy with what I see. The men work at a steady pace, the sun is shining, the sea its best blue. We've done well these past few months.

I think of this place as New Jamestown. Like those Englishmen of yore, we're an outpost...

"Real" Time: September 21st 1986

Dream Time: Late summer, probably September. 1969 is "best fit" for the year.

Old Washingtonians, Dad and I ignore parades, inaugurations, demonstrations and the like; but the glimpse of this we've seen on TV, and that it's barely a mile from the house, has led us to go and see. We've become separated. No problem, it's an easy walk home.

Three by three the Cardinals march, their staffs...

Late August or Early September, 1965. We've known this day was coming from the start. Her college is about five miles away, mine about 1,500. We're way too far along for either of us to transfer; and hers does not have ROTC, no small consideration in these 'Nam & Draft Era days.

I wish she wouldn't take it so hard.

I'll miss this second-story walkup. It's in a converted private home, so the floor plan is unique and the furniture a mix of the landlord's...