Dueling Banjos

We all know I have the strangest dreams in the world, but for time leading up to my departure to New Zealand, my sleep was less than desirable. Because there wasn't good sleep, there were no good dreams. Now, in the fond hopes that I am not jinxing myself, I am happy to say that I am sleeping better than I have in years. Change is good after all. As of late, the dreams have been just as wacky and involved as they ever were and I want to share part of last night's with all of you.

I was going to visit my brother in the country, where he now lived as a successful lawyer. He wanted to show me his brand new hobby, off road racing. If you know Leif, you know that this is only slightly preposterous. He was happy to have me along because visitors were allowed and would add to the weight of the car, making it easier to win. Yeah, physics majors, that doesn't exactly follow but it's my dream. You see, Leif always won the races and his trademark was that he brought along a guitar to begin playing upon his usual win. He would start playing the beginning to Dueling Banjos (at least, I think that's what it's called), and when no one would join in, but the next finishers would be there, he would say, "Yeah, that's right! No one can join in because I always cross the finish line by myself and first!" Obviously, you can see how my presence would disturb the logic of his taunting and also his ability to bring the guitar along in the first place. Although slightly disappointed by these circumstances, he talked some trash and had me buckle up.

He went soaring over these dirt roads so that we were airborne more often than not. I starting screaming that he was going to kill us. Leif, being the ever-logical one told me, "Annika, we can't die, it's a dream." After I told him that I frequently die painful deaths in my dreams, he replied, "Crap." We slowed down and still won, with only a few near death situations in which speeding tread touched roadside gravel. When we reached the finish line first, Leif was overjoyed to see the present I had stowed there earlier -- a guitar.

Critics say? Feel good dream of the year! Even if it does include me enabling his treacherous driving and trash talking. Once again, if you know Leif, this makes the story oh-so-much more funny. Crazed adventurer, no one will argue that.