Shop Dream

Last night I dreamt I was working at shop, on North Avenue in Milwaukee's East Sided.

The shop was on the south side of the street, and although I didn't see it out the shop's front windows in the dream, geographically, it would be located across the street from the Whole Foods that is there currently.

The shop was a cross between a Home Depot and a Cost-Plus World Market. Actually, I'm not entirely sure I was even working there in the dream. I definitely was shopping there, though. They had this corner of clearanced Christmas items, very cute, hand-crafted ornaments that I was looking at.

I'm looking at the sale items, and am feeling guilty, like I am going to get caught shopping on the job. But nobody says anything, noboby bothers me. No customers ask me for help and no manager asks me to get back to work. I am free to do as I please. For that moment, I pleased to shop.

There is a picture album in with the merchandise in that corner. I flip through it; it contains pictures of me hosting my family at a large outdoor table, with white table cltohs blowing in the breeze. Everyone looks happy, there is food and glasses of lemonade on the table and everyone is smiling at each other. There is a large home in the background of the shot. I know that the house is mine in the picture, the way the picture is orchestrated. However, in the dream, I am not the owner of that house. Yet. I feel it is showing me what can me mine.

I got lost in thought looking at the photo album of this possible life of mine, and suddenly notice that the store is very quiet. I think, oh, no! I've been here dawdling and the store must be closed.

Two of my (awake-state) co-workers are at the door of the shop, kind of standing and waiting for the last remaining customers to check out and leave. We were closing down for the day. I look at my watch, it's ten minutes of five. We must close at five, I think. Do we really, I think? It strikes me how little I know of my job in the dream, because, I'm still not entirely sure I work there, either. Nobody seems to be yelling at me for shopping. They are, however, patiently waiting for me to leave. It's closing time, and time for me and the other shoppers to exit the building.

I take my last-minute purchase, and walk out into the bright light of day.