It was hovering above the beach and approaching us, and as it drew near I instinctively picked Layla up and she wrapped her arms around my neck. In the dream, she was totally weightless.”

“Wow, what a dream! So what was it?” Maggie said.

“Yes, a very interesting dream.” Then I said, “Well, at this point I’m not sure what ‘it’ was, but we finally stopped not two feet from this shimmering form, and as we stood there this thing took shape and slowly became the shape of a woman. She was maybe in her sixties and this woman was beautiful and seemed ancient somehow. She had long white hair and as Layla and I stood there she calmly looked at me and smiled, and then she looked at Layla and smiled and said, ‘Welcome home, Layla.’”

Maggie, looking a bit shocked, said, “What? She said welcome home to Layla?”

“Yes, and that was the end of the dream. You woke me up. Remember, the cab was coming.”

Looking a little disappointed, Maggie said, “Yes, I remember. So what do you think this all means?”

I said, “I have no idea, hon, but that’s why I want to go see Mama Vermillion.”