I had the most surreal dream last night – so surreal and so “real” that I thought I would write about it.

As with all dreams, I have no idea how or when it started, why it included either Adam or myself, why we were there or any other thing that a sane person might ask, such is the way of the dream.  We needed to eat and Adam knew of this Thai place that supposedly was awesome.  And so it was that we arrived at a market.  It was magnificently large on the inside and we walked, following his knowing lead, through isles of food, throngs of people and various arena style combat games happening all around, to this small dingy area in the back where many men were standing around focused on the the ceiling.  The ceiling was a conglomeration of metal hung somehow from the ether above but the details of such mattered not.  What did matter was that the structure was obviously meant to hang the swords of the patrons while they dined. It was a grid, a large one at that, with various levels above each other.  The grid was another game, or more specifically the arena “floor” of a game played where you climbed through the overhead maze and chased another player while maneuvering through the lattice in what could only be described as a real life game of Baduk or “Go”, constantly positioning, gaining ground and leverage, all the while out-thinking your opponent, pushing them to the edge where they must submit or fall.  The old man already hanging there had crooked teeth and a knowing smile of one who had put others in their place over and over – the master of the grid.  The old man held a U shaped crowbar easily in one hand, a tool that allowed him greater mobility through the twisted metal structure, while hanging from the crook of his knees challenging those below him.  Adam and I slowly passed under and through this area, pushing through the crowd that watched as a challenger made his way up into the grid, a match was about to unfold above them as Adam lead us to his favorite spot to dine in the back corner.  Continue reading →