Oh, one more thing
(For Ilia)

I am getting to be a little wary of my dreams. Not only are they that lucid, they are increasing by the day.

Last night, I had two dreams. In the first one, I was part of a photo shoot of an ad campaign (that may or may not be for Guess?). Like the clothing line’s campaigns that previously featured Anna Nicole Smith and Claudia Schiffer, the dream was in black and white. Looking back, it wasn’t clear if I was the female model or if I was a stylist at the shoot. Either way, I do remember talking to the photographer (your stereotypical gruffy, slightly on the heavy side, dark and mysterious European) about how a particular scene is to go.

I was under a table and the scene involved me (or the model I’m styling) getting out of the table. The storyline of the campaign wasn’t clear and we were having a difficult time executing it. Or rather, the photographer and I were having a hard time understanding how the other interprets the scene (since the storyline is, magically, not made clear to the people in the shoot). I merely remember being insistent on my interpretation of the scene, deriving what may or may not be the storyline from that slice of image involving me being under the table. Miraculously, the photographer’s eyes light up and exclaims how he is amazed with my sharp explanation of the mood and atmosphere the scene needed. All this time, I was still under the table pleased and relieved that the photographer and I found our middle ground. Or at least, I was able to persuade him about my vision of the scene.

Next scene: there was a party at the house where the shoot took place. I assume it was an after-shoot party. I was like Audrey Hepburn’s Sabrina perched on a high place (though not probably a tree in this case) and I see everyone making their way through the venue which felt like a greenhouse that was transformed into a club. I see dark and mysterious photographer with a girl (who may or may not be the model in the shoot earlier that day). I wasn’t jealous or anything; still, I continued to observe them and not too long after, they start to kiss. Nothing raunchy, not much tongue; it was more of an appreciation of textures.

A remote link to reality: the scene under the table was reminiscent of that scene in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind where Joel Barish (Jim Carrey) went back to his childhood and his mother’s kitchen to find a place where he and Clementyne (Kate Winslet) would not be found by the people at Lacuna, Inc. But that’s just about it. I like this dream very much: however frivolous fashion may be for some people, its capacity for fantasy, pushing of limits (and people’s buttons) never fail to fascinate me.

Second dream: I was in one of my classes (most likely HUM 1) at AVR 2 and a friend of mine sat in at the back row to kill time and probably witness her teacher friend get all pissy with students who still think school makes time for nap time and serves hot chocolate. I was all huffing and puffing about giving instructions for a requirement, the atmosphere was quite chaotic (but not bordering on insolence). Next time I survey the class, I suddenly see Grace and Margot, two classmates from college, also sitting in class. They both register a bemused and curious smile on their faces. I was just wondering how they got through the door without me hearing them.

A remote link to reality: the first friend would probably have been Aileen, who would still be here on vacation when classes resume first week of January. I joked to her that she would probably want to witness my fall (i.e. another day of classes) while she’s in town.

Grace was a classmate of mine in high school who I got really close with in college, being on the same program with me. Margot is a blockmate of ours who is a good friend of Grace. Grace and I continued to keep in touch after graduation. Two or three years ago, we stopped communicating. All I know is that her parents and brother are now in the US and she’s in Canada and that her boyfriend’s name is Derek. I think I met Derek in one of her Christmas vacations in the Philippines.

At the rate my dreams are going, they’re averaging 60/40, i.e. reality/dream percentage. It‘s curious how they’re gradually merging, but not yet enough that it’s better for me to live in the dream world. Still, the dreams make for good storytelling, don’t they?

Last post for the year. Last one for this blog. I’ve taken residence in another address. I’d like to keep it to myself for the time being. I'd probably drop some clues later, when I feel like it.

Happy New Year!