Thursday, January 27, 2011

Last night

For the first time, I dreamed of my grandmother. I've been having incredibly vivid dreams lately, and last night was no exception. I woke up at 7, disoriented and confused, and fell back as soon as I found out we had a snow delay.

And I dreamed of her. I walked over to her, where she sat in her pink nightgown in a bed that was raised up on her back so she was half-sitting. I went over, and laid my head on her shoulder and made a noise. She smiled without opening her eyes and said "Well hi, Stephanie." In the same voice and inflection she always addressed me -although it was never my name in that sentiment but always "Well hi, sweetheart." I can hear her saying that countless mornings as I shuffled in the kitchen from sleep, for cheerios with sugar.

Always with sugar, at her house.

I watched a documentary last night on HBO of John F Kennedy, showing little-before-seen footage of his life and presidency and death. During the funeral processional, I noticed my office building in the background. Startled, I paused it and looked beyond that saluting boy and realized that I walked down that exact same street everyday.

I went to work this afternoon, running and dodging through snow and sleet and looked up to see the Capitol before me -ever present, ever constant, ever my view out the window. And I thought about all the people it has seen under its shadow, and that now, forever, I am one them. I am one of a million twentysomething workers that leave their good shoes at work and sludge through the street in boots trying to go and do and be. To try, somehow, to leave our mark.

I thought of my grandmother and I felt her walking beside me, taking big steps and stumbling when I did too. I thought of that processional.

I thought of the feet who have walked that same street. I paused for a moment and thought to myself: "Here you are."

Here we are.
I am in good company.


(Me, circa 2003)

5 comments:

Ms. Moon said...

It makes me so happy to know that you are there. It gives me hope. And dare I say that I am proud of you?

Elizabeth said...

Keep the faith -- you carry it for many of us!

Bethany said...

Sweetness.
Love this post.
And that gorgeous picture.
I feel the same as Ms Moon and Elizabeth.
Thanks for checking on me dear.
I'm okay, been really sick.

TheAbsolutPINK said...

love this one. I had another friend that told me she had a super vivid dream of her recently passed father. I told her that i like to think of those dreams as little gifts where we get to spend time with those we love.

I hope you remember this dream! I know you often don't remember them, so maybe that is something in itself to remember it.

Such a historic place you live and work - amazing to think about all the history and people and passion that has always filled the streets and offices there!

Angie Muresan said...

I second Ms. Moon.

And what a great dream to have. I like the fact that you wrote it down. It will remind you forever of it.