Ooooooops

While you'll hear quite a few rants from me on my dreaming childhood, this one from my dad was a gem. It took me just this conversation to hear and find out that dreaming was a trait being passed on through the generations in my family.

One night my father woke himself up with a loud "Hello!" to someone in his dream. As the next day came and went, Dad thought the nocturnal outburst was his alone to remember. But that night, as he and Mom were getting ready for bed, she said dryly, "If you see anyone you know tonight, just wave."

Well! I did take off after my dad but I guess my dreaming abilities came to the fore even during the day. While in school, I remember standing around the boxing ring with my classmates and the champ loudly challenging anyone to come forward for a couple of rounds in the ring for a 100 bucks. As usual, being in my own dreamworld, I was paying no heed to whatever was going on when someone pushed me forward. A deafening applause followed and there was obviously no backing out when I saw the prettiest lass of my class smiling the brightest and clapping the loudest. To cut the story short, the bout did take place, the punches did land but most of them were initiated by the champ and received with full impact by yours truly.

The only consolation was the apparently beatific but somewhat sympathetic smile on the face of my dream girlfriend, which I barely managed to see with my scarcely open eyes. The champ was equally sympathetic albeit a touch sarcastic when I heard him saying, “Were you dreaming when you came forward to take me on? But I must admit you were brave. So these hundred bucks are yours”.

And I heard myself saying, “Just show me the ‘son of a bitch’ who pushed me forward and I’ll give you two hundred”
…thinking…should I tell myself again to Dream on!!!