Standing by the side of the road, I clutched a driver’s training manual in one hand and looked through binoculars with the other. I observed the tops of big deciduous trees, drenched in sun, with swirling dark clouds in the background, and noted shapes both created. Feeling somewhat awkward, I wondered if people might feel I was some weirdo, but concluded, “screw them!”

The area was suburban and rural and I noticed 2 cute, grey & white puppies next to me on the lawn. Suddenly, a crazy, barking dog was running straight towards me, but as it reached my calves, it transformed into another puppy. Whew! It playfully began chewing off the corner of the DMV book.

Next, a nice young man emerged from the house behind. He sported a plaid, flannel shirt, and was smiling. I complimented him on his puppies and mentioned that one had chewed off the corner of my book. Thinking he might feel bad, I reassured him I was not upset.

He invited me in, and I found myself in a smokey, dark paneled living room, shaking hands and exchanging names, which I immediately forgot, with a bunch of college kids. Some of the girls were really cute.

I nervously blurted out some random bit of information about myself, so a blond, pony-tailed girl, with wide cheeks and a tiny mouth, asked me if I wanted something, but I couldn’t hear what she said. Out of politeness I said, “okay,” and she motioned behind me. Turning, I saw on the shelf an unlabeled bottle of clear liquid in an old, 8 sided bottle, tapering up to a small metal cap that came to a rounded point. My 1st impression was absinthe. My 2nd feeling was “yuck.”

Then I found myself in a different room filled with more young folks. I realized I had lost my beer, and some guy volunteered to help. Chaos ensued and it turned into a race to find it, running past long buds lying everywhere. Laughing hysterically, I finally ended up in a bathroom, woke up, and had to pee.