More Of…The Stuff Dreams Are Made Of

Is anyone else befuddled or is it the dingbat in me coming to the surface? Has anyone else noticed that it seems to be staying a little lighter out than it was a few weeks ago? By five in the afternoon here, the sky has got just a tad bit of light still. Just a few weeks ago I remember it being dark by then. And it’s not because the winter solstice has come yet, the shortest day of the year; that’s not due until next Monday. Take a look outside tonight at 5 o’clock and see if it’s real or if it’s just me. And furthermore, I also remember it being very dark out by 4 o’clock quite a number of years ago. I remember, one time, around Christmastime, being in my living room watching The Mickey Mouse Club–the original, with Roy and Jimmy and Annette (well, reruns and not the new version that gave us such luminaries as Britney Spears, Justin Tinker…er, Timberlake and Christina Aguilera) and sure as I’m writing this, I can hear my little 14 or 15 year old voice saying, “Man, it’s dark outside and it’s only 4 o’clock”. Man? I don’t think I’ve ever started a sentence with “man”. I can also remember when “Happy Days” used to be a cool show, like that time Fonzie said “Ayyyy”, but I’m getting off track now.

While you’re contemplating the brightness of the sky, drinking a cup of coffee or tea, rest assured you’re helping yourself fight off the onset of type 2 diabetes. Yes, coffee is still in the news but I thought after the miraculous findings last time, it would be in a negative connotation. But, no. Results from 18 studies from 1966 to 2009 and involving nearly 460,000 participants at the George Institute for International Health at the University of Sydney shows that people who drink three to four cups of coffee a day have about a 25% lower risk of diabetes as to those who drank two or fewer. Those that drink 4 have about a third lower risk and over 4 about a 1/5. Though the authors of the study aren’t exactly sure what the component is that lowers the risk, they are certain it’s not caffeine as the results were the same for both regular and decaffeinated. Instead it’s most likely other compounds including magnesium, and antioxidants known as lignans or chlorogenic acids. This is the season of miracles so maybe after all the hoopla of the holidays has subsided, there’ll be reports of at least one detrimental side effect of drinking lots of coffee.

When we last left my wackadoodle dream, the half naked dead Greek was being dragged off the stage. The mood turned solemn suddenly, in yet another area of the establishment, when the reason for the festivities were made known. This other room, also with a bar, though not as fancy as where we first were, was long and narrow, carpeted, and wallpapered in an oddly somber shade of mossy green flocked fleur de lis pattern. Amber colored votive candle holders glowed an eery and cold golden hue as did the sconces on the opposite wall between reflectionless mirrors. The mood was dour as everyone’s attention was turned toward the window at the far end of the room. The eldest of the 3 sons with the blue shirts was about to be hanged and though I didn’t want to watch it, I found myself being drawn to the side for a better view, as if I was floating, closer to where Ariel was standing, who was a little more than eager to watch the proceedings.

I tried not to look up, but I was drawn to what was happening and after the young man jolted to his finality, I fell in hysterics on the floor, while devastating moments of my own life flashed through my mind like loved ones, including my dog, dying.

When I finally came around and was calmed down, Ariel handed me an envelope. Inside was a mimeographed sheet of paper, a copy of Angela’s registry from some store or other for items for her baby shower and a refill for a diaper genie was checked off by Eddie, a friend of Purdy’s, who we have not seen in about 7 years. It was at that point I could sense myself becoming overwhelmed with this dream and I finally woke up.

Speaking of The Fonz, without looking it up, does anyone out there know his full name? First, MIDDLE and Last. No, really, don’t look it up, it’s more fun if you guess.

I have a choice to be in either a Christmasy mood or a migratory bird mood and since there’s time for Christmas stuff, I’m gonna go with the migratory bird thing. So, enjoy this incredible scene.

 

 

 

 

 

Tags: coffee, Mickey Mouse Club, starlings, swarming birds, type-2 diabetes, winter solstice