The Best Friday of My Life

This is how I will always remember Raymond Riker, III

September 22, 1989 - it was a Friday, just like today in 2017.  The calendar this year matches 1989.  The absolute best year of my life.  That was the year I met my soul mate Raymond Perry Riker, III.  We first caught eyes on Memorial Day of that year and four months later we had our actual "first date."  Etched in my mind forever.  We went to Salute on Woodward near Six Mile Rd. in Detroit.  There was about an hour and a half wait for a table - but we didn't care.  We talked, laughed, teased...I would have waited hours just to be with him.

We were never legally allowed to marry during his lifetime and so we never had an actual anniversary date of marriage.  We decided to make it the day we both knew we were in love with each other.  That day was September 22.  Every year after we celebrated our anniversary on this day.  It has been 28 years since we met.  More years than I had lived on the earth at that time.  I was a 22 year old "boy" and Ray was 30.  Acquaintances of his "warned" him that I was too young.  I was too much of a risk to get involved with.  I would have a fling and move on to someone younger.  He followed his heart and we stayed together for the rest of his life.

In an odd way he is still part of my life.  Of course there isn't a day that goes by in which he isn't on my mind.  In fact - in a way he is always on my mind.  I make recipes of his and remember his great food.  I listen to music and can't help but think of memories they bring of us together.  I put up holiday decorations (...including Halloween which Ray knew was my favorite) and remember when we bought this or that decoration.  It's totally impossible to "move on."  That just absolutely cannot happen when you lose your soul mate to death.  In a few months it will be eight years since he's been gone and I realize that your life changes but you don't "move on," you "go on."

So as I look at today's calendar, Friday, September 22, 2017 I am reminded of the best Friday of my life, September 22, 1989. - Jimmy

Then I Woke Up

I had the most intense dream on Monday morning, September 11, 2017.  I have never experienced anything like this.  Everything was crystal clear and it seemed like I was really "there."

I was in a school building and my friend Tao gave me a key to a locker. I set off looking to find the locker that the key fit.  I walked down the second floor hall and there were people around me...apparently going to class.  I realized at this point I was dreaming and knew I could do whatever I wanted.  I kept going down the hall and found a stairway.  I went down the stairs and found a store and café (located on the first floor of the school).  The store had a clearance section.  There was a miniature pool table on clearance.  It had legs about four inches high and the table top was about 8 x 4 inches.  Instead of billiard balls on the table there were miniature animals.  It seemed to be a "Noah's Ark" theme souvenir.  It was on clearance for $12.95.

I moved on to looking for the locker.  I found a door and opened it.  I saw that it was an exit and I could see it was rainy and windy out but it didn't seem like it was cold.  (Mind you - the dream occurred just after Hurricane Harvey and the beginning of Hurricane Irma - so this must have been on my mind...I'm assuming).  I decided to go outside through this exit door.  I wanted to explore where I was.  Again, everything was crystal clear, unlike any dream I've had before.  I noticed a subway/train depot platform across the street.  I figured it would indicate where I was at so I crossed over to read what station it was and where I was at.  The signs ended up being ads for board games and what appeared to be some type of "NASCAR" race advertisement.  There were letters of the English alphabet but they didn't spell anything out that made sense.  I walked off the platform and saw a pregnant woman walking my way.  I was going to ask her where I was but she just passed by me, kind of rudely, as if she wasn't interested in talking to me.

At this point I am now in a house on the second floor.  I decided to rest.  I saw my dog Harley sitting on an ottoman next to the couch I was on.  I picked him up to hold him.  He was old, feeble and blind.  He seemed uncomfortable so I put him back on the ottoman.  Then my cat Gabby (which passed away in May of 2010) came up to me.  She was in perfect health/condition.  I pet her.

I got off the couch and decided to try to leave.  I looked out a window (which was low to the floor).  It was beautiful out other than still being rainy and windy.  It was a very clear view.

Next I find myself lying on my chest, face down.  I felt as if someone was trying to pick me up.  Their arms were through my shoulders trying to get me up from the floor.  It was Ray!  At this point I was sure I was probably dying in real life and people were trying to get me up and revive me.  I said "I think I may be dreaming or dying in real life and people are trying to revive me but I don't think I can go back."  I truly felt like my soul/body was in this new world and there was no way to wake up or go back.  Ray asked me to lick up some orange juice that appeared to have spilled on a leather ottoman.  I said I didn't want to.  Then he said "how was the drink?"  I replied "what drink?"  He asked again..."how was the drink?"  I asked "what drink?"  Then he laughed hard (his typical laugh) and said loud and clearly "how was the drive?"  I said "I didn't drive, I came straight to heaven."  He smiled, laughed and hung his head on my shoulder from behind me while still holding me up from my arms.  I could see his profile and his hair.  I ran my hands through his hair and just felt it.  I was laughing and crying at the same time saying "I can feel your hair!  I can feel your hair!"  I was soo happy to see him.

Then I woke up.

- Jimmy