I've recently wrestled with questions that have troubled me for most of my life. Then last night, I had a dream in which I was speeding away from an evil organization in a stolen vehicle, only to realize a bionic man was chasing me, running along beside me, and he was about to reach my door.
Suddenly, I remembered a lucid dreaming technique taught to me by my first therapist, Susan Sunbeam. I realized that here was an opportunity to get the answers I'd been searching for. I paused the dream, a technique developed by the O'odham people of the desert southwest, and I spoke directly to my pursuer.
"Stop," I said. "I want to speak to someone who can answer life's biggest questions. Send to me the most knowledgeable person in the Universe."
The bionic man slowly faded, and in his place appeared someone instantly familiar to me, yet I was stunned to see her. No, it wasn't Ms. Wonder. It was Death himself. You probably remember her from a recent post entitled It's A Good Day to Die. You can look it up if you need to; we have plenty of time.
"Well," she said, "I certainly don't see this every day." And even though I didn't see her face clearly, I somehow knew or felt that she smiled.
I remained quiet for a moment. I was a bit stunned and, not surprisingly, in disbelief. I pinched myself to see if I was dreaming. I was, of course.
"I am impressed," she said. "This has never happened before. But I have urgent business to attend, so tell me why you summoned me, and make it quick."
I searched for words, but it was a bust. Nothing.
She placed a hand on her hip, tilted her head to one side, and began tapping a foot. Body language clearly said, Don't make me wait. I was surprised to be able to read Death like that.
"I'm so sorry," I said, beginning to feel that I'd crossed the line by summoning her. After all, who was I to make demands of Death?
"I truly don't mean to offend," I said. "Now that you're actually here, I feel that I've taken a great liberty. I want you to know I'm extremely grateful that you came. In fact, I suppose I'm eternally grateful."
"You made a joke, I think," she said. "A joke, yes? I am hoping to get better at detecting humor in mortals. My most recent encounter was with Sinatra."
"Wait," I said, "Frank Sinatra? Frank Sinatra joked when he met you?"
"Yes, The Chairman," She said. "When we met, he asked if it meant he was no longer Chairman."
"Did you laugh?"
"No, I do not experience emotions like humans, but I find it interesting that some people find humor in any situation, even when they are powerless."
"Well, I'm sure you'll come up to speed quickly and, when you think about it, there's no hurry, is there? You have plenty of time to work on that."
"Another joke, yes? Two jokes in one meeting. I am rolling, I think."
"Yes, you're certainly on a roll, and I think I am too; in fact, I think I'm one of those people who find humor in any situation. I certainly work hard at it."
"But you have a question," She said. "Let us do this so that I may get back to my duties."
"I had three questions, but you've answered two of them already."
"It is good to be of service," She said, and for the first time, don't ask me why, I sensed that her existence might be a lonely one.
"The remaining question is about childhood memories. I remembered a life that was not mine and yet wasn't entirely foreign to me. Memories of a previous life."
"Atlantis," She said.
"You know about those memories?"
"I learned something about you when you when you refused to open Death's Door at the time of the auto accident on Fayetteville Street in Durham."
"Oh, my!" I said. "It was you all along!"
"Is that not why you summoned me?" She said. "And why have you not asked your questions of Ekaterina, the one you call Ms. Wonder?"
These last words were the last little bit that made all the difference. I felt that too much was happening too soon. It was heaped up, pressed down, and running over. I wanted to speak to her about so many things, and yet I knew our time together must come to an end soon.
"She is a wonder," I said. "She's often the only bright spot in my life."
"Do you know everything?" I said.
She didn't answer me, but I sensed that she was pleased to have recognized another bit of humor.
After sharing and savoring a quiet moment, she said, "Atlantis is a memory of a life lived in what you think of as ancient times. Those memories first belonged to one of your ancestors and have been recorded in genetic material passed down to you over millennia."
I pondered those words, trying to fit them into the emotional experience of the memories.
"And now," She said. "I am satisfied to have been of service, but I must bid you farewell until re-seeing you. Do not take your life for granted, Genome. There is nothing in the universe to be desired more."
"I remember reading somewhere that even the angels in heaven are envious of man's Earthly life," I said, and I have no idea why those words came out of my mouth.
"May I take one more liberty?" I said. "I feel that your job must be a lonely one, and I've come to see you not as someone to be feared. I've enjoyed talking to you, and I'll miss you when you leave. In fact, you were so comforting to me in that dream meeting on the bridge a while ago that I no longer fear dying. I feel that a friend waits to meet me when it's my time."
"I am not alone," She said. "I have extended the transitions of my administrative assistant, Susan, and also my adopted daughter, Gloria."
"Wait, is it possible? Is your admin by any chance my first mental health therapist?"
"I also have my dog, Pluto," she said, "and many honeybees. I have a sweet tooth."
I wanted to spend far more time getting to know her. But she was determined to return to her duties, and I didn't want to take advantage.
"I'm happy you have them," I said. "No one should be alone."
She nodded.
"Before I take my leave," She said. "You did not explain why you brought your questions to me instead of Ms. Wonder."
"Oh, that," I said. "Just as you pointed out, Wonder is a very special someone, and she amazes me with her depth of knowledge and her wisdom. But I'm afraid that finely tuned brain of hers has finally come unglued."
"How so?" She said.
"Well," I said, in a near whisper as though I didn't want Wonder to hear, "it's like this. We visited Brookgreen Gardens last evening, and I complained to her that the wind stopped blowing the Spanish moss around each time I tried to video it..."
"Yes?" She said.
"Well, you may find it hard to believe, but she began huffing and puffing in the direction of the live oaks, much like the big, bad wolf."
"Hmmm, I see," She said. "But good for her. It's quite satisfying when mortals find ways to enjoy their time on earth."
"The most amazing part of the story is that the Spanish moss began moving again, and I captured it in the video."
We shared another quiet moment before she said, "Au revoir, Genome; until we meet again."
In the next instant, she began to fade, and the bionic man slowly materialized in her place. I became very irritated that the pleasant meeting with Death had ended only to be replaced by the senselessly aggressive appearance of a power-mad tyrant.
Have I mentioned that I have anger issues?
The vehicle I'd stolen from the evil organization was an armored military truck. It was built to withstand a lot of abuse. It was dangerous to pedestrians even when standing still.
With absolutely no forethought of any kind, I drove that vehicle right into robot-man. I enjoyed every knock and bump of him rolling around underneath the wheels as I drove away.
All in all, I'd say it was a very satisfying dream.
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