by Northsidelou

Building + Train + Childhood = Happiness?

I just had the weirdest most wonderful dream

Lu Zhi — 

Zhuangzi Dreaming of a Butterfly, Ming dynasty, mid-16th century Ink on silk, 29.4 x 51.4 cm

“Once upon a time, I, Zhuang Zhou, dreamt I was a butterfly, fluttering hither and thither, to all intents and purposes a butterfly. I was conscious only of my happiness as a butterfly, unaware that I was Zhou. Soon I awaked, and there I was, veritably myself again. Now I do not know whether I was then a man dreaming I was a butterfly, or whether I am now a butterfly, dreaming I am a man…”

I just had the weirdest most wonderful dream. Not super clear, obviously, but I was at some place that resembled the John Hancock building. It was called One Central Plaza and it had business and residential units and a “Union” rail station underneath. I was with a friend from the old neighborhood. We were running all around the building, the train station and the lobby raising hell over some kind of injustice. Yelling at people, throwing things (small things, like pen caps).

John Hancock Building — Chicago, IL. image credit/Luis Antonio Perez

It was very innocent but loud and full of passion. Nobody paid any attention to us (maybe we were kids?). We knew we couldn’t make significant change but we were having the time of our lives trying.

When I started to wake up I felt joy. In my half-dazed state I said something like, “we’re never going to topple the tower, but it’s fun to be a rebel so let’s get out there and tell stories.” I thought, why am I not spending every spare minute I have doing the things I love?

I need to tell stories, and better hurry my ass up getting back to it. That was the message. F-ing weird, but awesome.

This story was originally published on medium