May 27, 2006

The Simplest Essence of Power

I was dreaming the last night about Marvin McNett, a man with a really bad attitude -- a bad, bad, attitude, a worse attitude than almost anyone, with bad days, like, everyday. How Marvin came into my dream remains a mystery, obviously, but I will say that by some trick of language he and I shared quite a lot, more really than I was comfortable with at the time.

Nevertheless, Marvin and I respected one another. Rather, we respected the concept of one another. Or I respected him. I don't know if he even knew me. I suppose he did. I think maybe that he had seen me. But who can say? He knew of me, that much I think I know.

Anyhow, this man, in life, I'm told, had an excellent attitude. And in spite of difficult circumstances, he tried to remain positive. That's the thing about dreams, they don't always match up with reality, which is something I've grown to appreciate about them, truth be told.

Reality, claims Phillip Dick, remains even after you've stopped believing in it. But dreams remain whether you believe in them or not. No before or after needed. And then they leave whenever they want, whether they're through, or whether they're just beginning. And that independence is their engine. Self-sufficiency is the simplest essence of power.

They may be prophetic; they may be nonsense. Yet we witness, and accept their ridiculousness because -- I guess because we can't help it, can we? They're very near memories in that way. They're like cousins of nostalgia, or brand new friends. Here's to cousins then, and the return of dreams; to memories, to Marvin, to friends and enemies.

Forgive me for that last bit. I'm a little drunk. And I might've bought a house yesterday.