Beautiful Dream.

(Yes, I'm so tired I've been reduced to coming up with post material while asleep. Four shifts to go!)

I dreamed was walking down a busy street, and there was a woman standing by the curb yelling at people as they passed by. Horrible things. Insults of every kind--racial, size-based, sexist--anything about them that was anything, that distinguished them from a department store mannequin in any way, she would pick out and scream at them. People were cringing and shying away, kids started crying. I was horrified and upset.

I stopped just out of her earshot and called the police. "We know about her, ma'am," said the dispatcher, sounding tired. "We can't do anything about it. It's a First Amendment issue."

So I decided that I would stand next to her, and every time someone came by, tell them something good about themselves. I wasn't condescending; I put all of my love into it. As long as she stayed there, I did, screaming at strangers:

"YOU HAVE A BEAUTIFUL FAMILY!"
"I LOVE YOUR HAIR!"
"YOU LOOK SO CONFIDENT!"
"YOU ARE A UNIQUE HUMAN BEING FULL OF POTENTIAL!"
"THOSE ARE FREAKING AWESOME SIDEBURNS!"

I couldn't shut her up, but I could add my voice.