(5/10/06) trying not to be disrespectful

(Entered in paper journal at 5:53 PM at Starbucks on 43rd Street and 3rd Avenue in Manhattan.)

Dream 1

It was dark. I may have been outside, but I was on a couch with a blonde woman and my old friend AS from the improv troupe I was a part of in college. AS was the woman's boyfriend. I flirted with the woman, not seriously, more because I liked her so much, though I was also attracted to her. The woman leaned her head against my lap. Her hair turned brownish.

AS now yelled in my left (?) ear that I had no right treating him so disrespectfully by being so intimate with his girlfriend. He made it clear somehow that he would make my life a legal nightmare if I messed with his girlfriend.

I was now walking outside on a grey day with my friend R, who stood to my left. We walked down a square case of concrete steps that started very high in the air. After a few flights there would be playgrounds, then more flights. I spoke about the girl and how I liked her a lot but how I didn't have any intention of stealing her from AS. R talked about how AS and more of our mutual friends were so spiteful.

We got down to a "main" level (still high up, though now at least connected to a building or cliff). Now there were a lot of people coming up the stairs. The stairway and the ramp-like path were full. It was difficult and confusing to walk against the flow of people.

I walked into a very tall black man wearing a maroon, leather jacket. He moved out of the way so I mostly hit only his jacket and a little of his left flank. The man turned around and yelled that I should watch where I walk.

I turned around to yell something mean at the guy. But by the time I was turned around I had pulled myself together enough to realize saying something mean or spiteful would only make me look stupid.

So I thought of the plainest thing to say. I said, "Wow! You sure are tall!" I was pleased at making no aggressive observation, though I felt I would still get into some kind of scuffle.