Psychedelic Seahorses

I’m in the backset of a large SUV. In the front passenger seat is a dear friend of mine, the truck is being driven by her husband.  We are going to pick up another friend at her home. We drive into an entrance that looks like the entrance to an underground parking garage. Instead of the ramp leading down, it leads up. It is very dark and all constructed of wood. There are dark stained planks on the floor, walls and ceiling. It is so dark, and feels like it just absorbs the light form the headlights, rather than lighting the way. Nonetheless, the vehicle slowly circles up and up until the space opens out.

We are parked in the kitchen of a woman’s house. It is constructed of the same dark wood, but there is more light here, one wall is glass. My friend gets out of the vehicle and goes to greet the woman, who is gathering her things from the counter. I also get out of the vehicle, say hello, then walk over to the wall that is all glass. I look out and see an idyllic lake. There are tidy little docks and boat shelters. People are pedalling around in pedal boats. As I watch, I can see not only the activity on the surface of the water, but also under the water. At first I’m not sure what I saw, a little streak of color moved through the water. A moment later, a much larger one, it seemed to fill the space from the bottom of the lake to the surface, it was moving much slower. I can clearly see that it is a large seahorse, nearly transparent, save a splash of bright colors over it’s belly. Several more also passed by, some large, some small, all headed in the same direction. Finally the last one passed, I waited a while longer by the glass, but no more appeared into view.

I woke up.

Giving Speeches and Negotiating with Cats

Cohort 35 has completed their program. I’m advised by a former colleague that I must give a talk, either at the beginning or end of what I assume to be the graduation celebration. Despite a battery of questions, I can’t conclude what the celebration is specifically for, why I need to address the gathered crowd twice, where the event will be, what sort of remarks would be appropriate, etc.

I spend some time trying to acquire this information. I come across two exchange students in the middle of the lake. It’s not clear whether we are in the lake, on the lake, or above the lake. After I explain why I need the information, they tell me they don’t know, but maybe I’ll find out if I jump from a height into the water. I do jump from a height into the water, I’m not sure what I jump off of.

I’m back with my former colleague, who tells me I will only be doing the opening address, as I don’t have the rank to deliver the closing address. I ask more questions about who I will be addressing, who’s attending, what the content should be, etc. There are no answers.

I find myself sitting clothed on a bed. My cousin is in the room telling me I MUST run a Discover Software class in Southbank, because that is the only program they will consider. She has brought friends to provide testimonials. Three cats jump up on the bed, an adorable little kitten, a smaller grey cat, and a huge orange tom cat. The tom cat has the most to say about the merits of the course, but turns the conversation back to the opening remarks I need to make, and asks me how I’m preparing. He then questions what time I’m planning to head to the venue, and what time the event actually starts. I tell him I have not been preparing, and I don’t know what time the event starts, or even where it is. He tells me maybe there is something that can be done, if only the Southside could access the Discover Software course. We start negotiating times and dates for the course. I wake up.