California Dreamin'

Last night, I had the strangest dream.

I was in a hotel. Late for a business appointment, anxiety turned to panic as I navigated hallways and conference rooms and more hallways. In classic dream fashion, I was lost. Worse, I was fighting sleep, unable to fully awaken. Whenever I tried to talk to anyone, my speech was slow and unclear. People were perplexed by my inability to pronounce words or complete a sentence. Everyone thought I was sick. All I needed was assistance getting to the lobby. Someone, somewhere, was waiting on me. I wasn't going to make it.

Finally, I find an elevator. Ding. It's empty. I get on, punch L and ride down. The doors open, but the hotel lobby I am expecting is not there. Instead, I step out onto a crowded city street. Every direction I look, sidewalks and streets are packed with people. The atmosphere is charged but peaceful. Serious, but oddly festive. I look at a woman next to me. "This is really embarassing," I said, surprised at the sudden clarity of my words. "Can you tell me what city this is?" She just laughed and said, "Your kidding, right?" And then I remember my appointment is - was - in San Francisco. I missed it. Didn't care. But I still didn't understand why thousands of people were congregating to shut down the city. They were unified in their purpose, whatever it was. Never had I seen so many people in one place. The Golden Gate Bridge was filled with pedestrians. No cars. No trucks. No traffic. Anywhere. The same woman who had laughed at my question said "If Pelosi won't do anything about it, what else can we do?"

Instantly, I woke up.

And for a few seconds, I believed thousands of people were shutting down the city of San Francisco to demand Nancy Pelosi call for the impeachment of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney. Even as I realized it wasn't really happening, I was infused with a sense of optimism and hope. Like the living fabric of the dream only moments earlier, it quickly faded. But the question remained: Is it so impossible that the people of California could fill the streets of San Francisco and force Nancy Pelosi to do what is right for the nation? For the world?

Twenty hours later, I refuse to believe the answer is no.