The first night I dreamed this.

This black limousine pulls up in front of our house and three men in saffron colored robes get out. Their dress is the same as I have seen in pictures of the Dali Lama. These men must be representatives of him. Wow, what a response I am getting to my letter. I open the door and they come in as if they knew exactly where they are. We all gather around our dining table. The saffron robed monks explain to me that the Dali Lama, in response to my letter, has sent them. They then go on to say that the letter I sent was different from the thousands of letters of support that they have received, because it floated out of the mailbag. It is at present time hovering at midpoint between ceiling and floor. They have cautiously captured it and opened it whereupon it has returned to its position suspended in mid-air. They explain to me that the sender of this letter would be the incarnation of the previous Panchen Lama. Well, okay, not a real bad job for a retired firefighter. Then I remember you had put the letter in the mailbox making you (technically) the sender. The monks then put a saffron colored robe on you and out the door you go with them. I run after you and the monks, exclaiming, "But he is Baptist." They assure me that they would not hold that against you.

I awoke with a start and got up to check to see if your head was firmly planted on your pillow. You were not there. I checked the one other place that I could count on finding you. Yes, there you were at the refrigerator with the door wide open. This time I did not holler at you to get you to close the refrigerator door.


The next night the dream continued.

Your mother and I now have an apartment in the palace in the capital city of Lhasa. We have a fantastic view of the Himalayan Mountains and it is ours for as long as we want to stay. We have the run of the palace, and the only thing required of us is that we bow when you walk by. Also we have to be careful that when we do sit together we do not sit higher than you do. I remember we had to do this when you lived at home so it is no big deal.

Batman, Superman and Arnold have combined forces to kick the entire Chinese Communist army's butts clear out of Tibet. They are cowering behind some rocks near their border, afraid that they are going to make Arnold mad again. Your mother is checking the Lhasa phone directory for the location of shopping malls. This day I will check out the Lhasa fire station where I can converse with the Tibetan firefighters about getting more gpm out of your ladder pipe nozzle and the merits of transverse hose beds.

I awoke with a start and went to look for you. I passed by the refrigerator and the door remained tightly shut. I headed for your bedroom and found you with your head firmly planted on your pillow. I closed the door softly so as not to wake you.