A STUDY IN CONTRADICTIONS

Strange, surreal dream from last night:

I am in a house that's very large and has many rooms, but it's also old, crumbling and falling apart in some areas. It is filled with people - my children, friends and strangers. We are all dressed in bright costumes but wear them as though they are our every-day clothing. The jewel-tones of sapphire blue, emerald green, ruby red, royal purple look beautiful, but the fabrics are cheap satins that fray easily. The backyard, where there are also a lot of people, is big, but full of holes and rocks It's a study in contradictions.

My daughter Dorry is involved with a spontaneous nursery that started up because of so many children being in the house, and this too is strange, because she has never been comfortable around little ones. And yet, there she is, involved and involving, playing games and keeping the focus going. My other daughter is suddenly pregnant and is developing very quickly. We begin talking about her having twins, which she says is correct, a boy and a girl are on the way.

I walk around and see a group setting up an altar. I am told that it's a complete portable altar that sets itself. It starts out as a small pouch of red and gold brocade, and when a string is pulled it inflates and opens up into a total and complete altar setting, with candles, incense, and all other tools upon it. Unfolding further a small goblet full of wine and a plate with a piece of pie is seen. We are all very impressed with this gadget, and as we turn to each other to comment on it, a young girl, about 15, chubby, blond and wearing glasses, grabs the pie and begins eating it. We all stare at her in shock. I quietly say to her, "I do believe that was an offering to the Gods". She looks dumbfounded and very embarrassed, her cheeks turning red, as she realizes her mistake. She looks at the last mouthful, and quietly puts it back on the plate. We all tell her that it's okay and try to make her feel better.

In the meanwhile, my daughter did indeed give birth to twins, a boy and a girl, just as she said. Like her pregnancy which progressed to birth in a matter of an hour, the labour and delivery went by within minutes. My son came to tell me it went well, and together we walk to her room. This one, like all the other rooms, is large, but shabby, as though its full potential has never been realized. By the time we reach her, she is already out of bed and bundling up the little ones - who are absolutely perfect in every way. 

There is some grumbling going on from one of the young men who are just outside this room. A voice is raised, insisting that the newborn boy is his, and before he can be restrained, he rushes in brandishing a large knife. He grabs me and threatens to kill me unless he is given the child. Even in the middle of this crisis, none of us is upset or worried. My daughter brings the two babies for him to look at and he lets me go, but nicks my neck with the knife slightly, drawing a bit of blood. My son quickly takes charge of my care, while my two daughters fuss over the babies, the supposed "father" taken quietly away. 

My last image is a long view of the entire community, as though I have suddenly removed myself from the group...