I Must Be Dreaming

I am an escapist. No, I cannot do magic. I escape in my mind.

I can get lost in the story of a book. I feel like I am watching a Civil War battle when I read about Robert E Lee's life. In Wuthering Heights I get caught up in the love, unrequited love, revenge, and all other angst. Nancy Drew has taken me on so many adventures. I especially loved the old aunt who could not perform any duties because she "has a bone in her foot".

Children appreciate a good story. Green Eggs And Ham takes us on a merry trip. Sam I Am is convinced he would not like green eggs and ham no matter what. In the end he tries it and discoveres to the delight of all the he actually likes them. All he had to do was try them.

Fantasy stories are so much fun. I can accompany characters who accept magic as an everyday happening. Mythical animals abound. Other worlds are explored.

Movies are the same. I watch a lot of my favorite movies on television. It is not the same even with surround sound.

In the theater with the lights lowered and the sound all around me I become one with the movie. I usually see movies that I do not have to think about. I simply want to be entertained. For that reason I like musicals.

A lot of people grimace at the thought of a musical. The plots are often a love story. The songs are about love gained or lost. The dances are colorful and lively. Seven Brides For Seven Brothers is loosely based on The Rape of the Sabine Women. The brothers kidnap young brides for themselves and whisk them away to their remote ranch.

By spring when the families of the women were able to rescue them the women had fallen in love with the kidnappers. It all provides the opportunity for songs and dances. It is light-hearted for the most part. I sit at the edge of the action watching.

Indiana Jones takes me on adventures all over the world. His stories are about real ideas and I see real landmarks. There is a lot of action and suspense. And I am a part of it.

Disney full feature cartoons take me to a fantasy land. They are full of imaginary creatures. They are colorful and end happily.

Now I return to real live action.

My husband drove a truck. It was owned by a man who owned a bar. On Fridays we would go to the bar to pick up my husband's paycheck. There was a Mexican buffet so we would usually eat too.

We were sitting at a table with my husband's brother and his wife and enjoying the Mariachi band. My brother-in-law had gone to the restroom. The place was busy as it always was on Fridays.

Suddenly a man in a white shirt came running from across the dance floor (the direction of the restrooms). He ran up and over our table!

My husband thought it was his brother who was wearing a white shirt. He ran after the men chasing the white shirt to protect his brother. My sister-in-law immediately ran to stand next to the wall out of the way of any action.

There were people hitting each other all around our table. Tables and chairs were knocked over.

Where was I? Sitting in my chair watching the action. It was so unreal that I felt like I was at the movies.

My sister-in-law ran over and grabbed my arm and pulled me to the wall. At close to the same time our table was toppled.

My brother-in-law came out of the restroom to the whole scene. When he found out that my husband was in the tangle of bodies he went to join the fray.

Eventually the fight was over and tables righted and chairs put back in place. We sat down to recover a bit before we left. I thanked my sister-in-law for saving me from being hurt.

I guess my escapism is not always a blessing.