I had a dream . . .

[ashling]

I had been watching THE GRAPES OF WRATH on TV the other day while taking a break from writing my professional paper which is titled: "Gilded Again: Extreme Inequality in Our Time & Why We Never Learn."

I was just thinking about a scene where Casey -the preacher- is saying some words over the body of granpa who has died on the road. I can almost remember the whole thing:

"This old man, he just lived a life an just died out of it. I don't know if he was good or bad, and it really don't matter much. ...heard a man read a poem once, says everything that lives is holy ... Well, if I wuz to pray, I wouldn't pray fer a man that's dead, I'd pray fer them that's alive and don't know which way t' turn. Granpa here don't have t' worry about that no more ... he's got his job all laid out fer him ... so just cover him up n' let him git to it."

Anyway, I dozed off for a while and had a dream:

I dreamed I was asked to say grace at my mother in law’s on Christmas. ( I alway's decline the honor]
In the dream, there had been all of the usual bickering by my sister in law and the usual dismissive slights and tone of all of them toward African Americans in general and particularly the ugly things about Obama.
So, we all bowed our heads and I started one of those rambling prayers thanking everybody, etc:
“Dear Lord (under my breath: if you’re really up there—I have my doubts) Lord, just thank you for this time that we all have together … (name each person individually and said something really nice about them that was particularly contrary to their character)We’re so greatful to all have this time when we can come together as a family … where we can celebrate each other with love in our hearts … and here we all stand with kind and loving spirits around this wonderful repast that has been provided for us ( here I mention every dish an thank the person that made it getting every one wrong) … such a wonderful feast which is more than enough to nourish and satisfy each one of us 4 times over … Lord, for all of this we are humbly greatfull … and so it is in your spirit that I say from the bottom of my heart …
That if there was half an ounce of Christian charity around this table we’d gather it all up and take it down to the homeless shelter, for those that are in a bad place in their lives, or down to the county jail for the inmates who will not be at home this Christmas . . .
(SILENCE – LOOONG PAUSE --- nobody look’d up---- more silence)
But there’s not, so y’all go ahead and eat … Melodie and I are going down to the Salvation Army to serve Christmas dinner.”

It was just a dream, but how’d I do?

[ashling]

1. one more chance before I go

this thread, that is