I found myself in a rural area standing at the side of a highway like road. Across the road was a man waiting for me in what appeared to be a Model-T... behind him was a road that went off into the distance. Behind me were some barns with two black men working on the roof. I waved at the two men, but received blank stares in return. To my right, and a short way down the highway, I saw an overpass. This area was busy, and seemed to be very urban, and dirty. I did not look to my left, but I imagined it to be sunny, soft and pleasant... matching the rest of the urban area.
I decided to cross the street to meet the man... it was the reason I was there. As I crossed I learned it was actually two black men on riding lawnmowers. The one that welcomed me was a farmer, and the other was his helper. I was there to look at an area on their farm. I walked down the road as they road on their mowers. The farmer pointed to an area off to the left in the distance as the area of interest. I could not see the area, but a natural path in between some wooded shrubbery. I could now see the soft sunny horizon through the shrubbery. The path apparently led behind the farmhouse.
As we got to the farmers property, we started to head towards the area of interest. We began to climb a steep hill with a fenced in area at the top. I remember thinking how impressive it was that their mowers made it up the steep incline. The short chain link fenced area contained tall bushes, trees and shrubs, and was fairly dense. The entire area was shady. As I faced the fence a black crow had landed slightly off to my right. As it perched, it turned to stare at me. At eye contact a calf cried off to my left. I looked and saw the calf in the corner of the fenced in area. The calf stood up and walked over to its mother who was standing directly in front of me, but perpendicular. The calf’s mother was a mule. The farmer explained to me that the mule was a thoroughbred, but that a "bred" mule was better. (Apparently, a "bred" mule had to have its conception and birth well documented, and in some cases video tapped.) My eyes followed the brown mule from head to rear (my right to left). The mule was looking away from me; so I saw his rough gray mane that traveled from his head, down his neck, across his back, and back up his neck at the rear. The left side head and neck of the mule turned to look at me while the head at the front (my right) stayed looking away. I believe the front head was looking at his calf. Then it was time for me to wake up. (Yes, the mule was the calf’s mother, and yes, the mule was a "he")
[back]So after playing around with different styles and concepts, I finally narrowed a basic layout down. It just so happens, that 5 years ago today I met my wife, and today is Good Friday. (no joke!) I must however note, that I am not writing this on the 9th... today is actually the 13th.
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