So.

Dreams.

Does anyone truly understand where they come from?

And if they do, do I really want to KNOW?

For your consideration, I submit last night's phantasmagoria:

I was walking up a steep hill on a street in some city I have never been to. I had a vague feeling the ocean was on my left, but just out of sight. I was carrying some kind of unwieldy backpack or satchel that was very loosely held together by uncertain cords and straps.

I wanted to take a rest and found an alcove on the side of a building with a low 'roof' over it and ducked into it.

Suddenly, without any segway, there were two women with me, and we were pulling little packets of food out of our bags to share. This is when the Meerkats entered the dream.

In my bag, was a small gang of Meerkats hiding in the dark recesses. I think there were at least five of them. They came out and blinked at us. They were very attached to me and watched every move I made. I felt very protective of them too. So, as these women and I were eating our snacks, I saw a little pile of cut up mushrooms on a piece of waxed paper and decided to see if the Meerkats might be interested in them.

Turns out they were a hit, so I gave them all the mushrooms which they began happily chomping down. Everyone was happy.

One of the women pulled out a new t-shirt she had just purchased and I helped her unpack it and take all the little pins and tags that were in the package. We were admiring the color which was a lovely shade of lilac.

Then BOOM.... as dreams are wont to do, I was riding in a car with some faceless person, approaching a very busy intersection where there was a red light. The buildings in the area were four or five stories tall. Across the other side, on a green belt by the sidewalk, I noticed a tall narrow Spruce tree. It was wobbling at the top. I know that look, as it's what happens right before a tree falls when someone is at the base with a chainsaw. And sure enough, someone felled that Spruce RIGHT on the green belt, slick as snot, dead on where it needed to go, not disturbing so much as a road sign or parking meter. I was duly impressed. I have seen a goodly number of trees being felled living where I do, and there are times things don't go exactly to plan.

Anyway, while I was admiring this fete of tree falling expertise, I and the Meerkats found ourselves no longer IN the car, but sitting behind the car being towed in a garden cart.

So, as the light turned green, the car made a left turn while the VERY nervous Meerkats gathered around my shoulders holding on for dear life. I myself couldn't hold on because I found that I had a large round of firewood in my arms trying to keep hold of it as we careened around the corner surrounded by any number of speeding vehicles.

The last thing I saw in the dream was a wild-eyed Meerkat climbing on top of my head.

I never did see who was driving that car.

***

Now my dear friends. WHERE did all that come from? What synapses and neurons were working overtime to conjure up such nonsensical images?

It's beyond my ken.

I wonder if any Meerkats had dreams about ME?

(Somehow I doubt it. They look alarmed at the very possibility.)

You are probably right.

(I usually am.)