College Days

I had a vivid dream.

I was in the back room of a crowded restaurant, and the first face I saw was of my college roommate, George. He was drinking a beer, and he raised his bottle to toast me.

Suddenly, I wanted a beer.

I turned in my seat and saw Diane, and then Kevin, and Lisa and Rosie, Rick and Fluffy.

College friends all gathered in that room.

I saw the beer in their hands, and deep in my dreams, I craved the taste.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

“Everyone you knew from college is coming,” George said.

Brian and Chris and Tony walked in.

I thought of the girls all gathered together.

“This could be troublesome,” I said.

“Relax,” George answered. “We’re only toasting the good times.”

I looked around at the gathering of faces.

Mac, and Pomeroy and Guy and Carmen.

Everyone was still just 19 years old.

Gag and Terry slapped me on the back.

Chris came by with Marie and they made fun of me.

“This is awesome,” I said.

And then….

…my dog jumped up in my bed and stirred me awake.

I could still see George’s young face in my mind as I returned to the real world.

“Shit!”

I tried to go back to sleep and bring my friends back to my mind.

Couldn’t do it.

The thing is…

…they’ve never truly left.