MY REALITY ADVENTURE

I woke up on a plain of miles and miles of nothing but miles and miles of grass and mud. There were no telephone poles, or electric lines strung across the sky, and the huge open blueness of the heavens was a wonder to behold.At first I was alone, and it didn't take long for me to realize that I was a younger, strong, healthy version of myself.I was wearing khakis, and hiking boots, and a lightly packed back pack.I walked with no knowledge of direction, wandering until I tired, and then sat down on a small rise, and inspected the back pack. It wasn't easy to do. The constant wind whipped my long hair around, so that it was always in my face and confusing my vision,but finally I smoothed it all back, and twisted it,and stuffed it down the back of my shirt.In the back pack, I had a water bottle, a hunting knife with a compass in the handle, along with a belt that held them both.I decided they would be more helpful if they weren't stuck away in the back pack, so I took a drink from the  bottle, and took it and the knife, and  strapped them on my hips.Upon further inspection, I found several small tins of food, of dubious content, an all utility eating implement, a tiny army issue can opener with no moving parts, and what looked to be three towels, folded up very small.They turned out to be a towel, a blanket,and a sleeping bag. All three were green and very thin.Just looking at them sent a shiver down my back.None of them were going to be very helpful in keeping the wind from going right through me at night.Right now, it was very pleasant, sitting in the warm sun with the wind causing the sea of grass around me to undulate and flow like water, but later,when the light in the sky failed,and night closed in, I could tell it would be cold.Yet, there was still more in that back pack,and so I continued to dig through it,hanging on to hope.I found a cake of soap, with a green wash rag wrapped around it with a band of paper.A pair of sturdy gloves, and a pair of socks.A tiny tube of toothpaste,and a toothbrush, that folded in half.Finally, in desperation, I stood up, and upended the pack,and all the rest of the contents came tumbling out on the ground in a heap.There were a lot of other little tiny packages, mostly flat packs of this and that, but there in the midst, was a roll of green nylon, strapped with green cord, with four short metal stakes,and two large ones! Paydirt! I knew it had to be a pup tent! Sighing with measured relief, I sat back down and unrolled the nylon.It was larger than it seemed at first glance, but still it was small.No matter. I would make it work!I perused the rest of the contents as I repacked the items.Asprin.salt, pepper, sugar, tea,coffee, cigarettes,chocolate, honey, corn meal,dry milk,dry eggs,cans of beans, canned bacon, and canned brown bread.Most of which were tiny single serving sizes,loose, which had fallen out of a green canvas flat organizer, which had pockets for each group of items.The cans fit in perfectly into the large round pockets at the bottom.Then there was also A cup and plate,a cook pot that had a handle that swung in for storage, and swung out for use, and clipped into place.A tiny jointed axe,a metal container that looked like a watering can, with a chain and hook at the top of the handle, a mesh bag,and a foot or more long tool that looked like a pair of scissors, but was closed at the end.All it did was rub together at the end.I played with it for a moment, until it sparked,and then I knew this was the thing to use to start a cook fire.I quickly repacked, realizing suddenly that I had taken a long time just getting to  know what was in my pack, but I was thoughtful enough to put the tent on the top.I stood up and pulled the knife out of it's sheath, to get my bearings.I still didn't know where I should be going, but I knew enough to know that west was usually a good bet, so I could keep track on the setting sun. On this flat plain,night would fall quickly,and I didn't relish the idea of making camp in complete darkness.In the pit of my stomach I had a growing unease and dismay. No change of clothes, except socks.One bar of soap.To find oneself on this barren plain with such spartan supplies, and no idea why I was here, or for how long, was unnerving.I found west, and began walking that way, searching for the source of light. Where was the sun? I looked back to see if it was rising in the east...and that's when I saw..."It"! Not the sun..but a jeep, sitting there on the crest of a hill, about a mile or so away. Frantically, I began searching my pockets...and believe me I had enough of them to search, but at last, I found a set of keys. I was awestruck. How was it, that I had been wandering out here for what seemed like hours, when all along there had been a jeep up there? Keys in hand, I set out to reach it, even before I noticed the tag that said, "brown Jeep" on the keyring. I looked up again, and sure enough, there it was, muddaubber brown! I was too loaded down to run, but I was going at a fast march! Hunger didn't matter, thirst didn't matter, the wind unfurling my hair and whipping it back up into my face didn't matter, Those might be my wheels! Even while I high stepped through the tall grass,with occasional slurping sounds from underfoot that bespoke of mud that slowed me somewhat, unpleasant conjecture ran through my mind. What if it was out of gas? Maybe that's why I left it in the first place! What if it's not even my jeep, and the key won't fit, what then? Well, I told myself, then it still means your not out here alone,and someone else to help do...whatever it is your doing here...will be welcome, won't it? Or will it? Just as I breathlessly reached the Jeep, and scrambled into it, other pieces of this puzzling affair fell into place.In the back seat of the Jeep were four duffle bags...one of which had my name on it.The Key fit, and I began to turn it, when A voice called my last name." Hey!" she said then," You can't have pitched your tent and set up your camp in that length of time! Remember, we agreed, we'd all find our own space, and then come back for the rest of our months supply. Now, get going girl, or it'll be midnight before you get your dinner caught and cooked!" I turned to see a red-haired girl laughing at me from the other side of the road.She was dressed much the same as I was.She went on, displaying prominent teeth in a big grin," Not that I wouldn't like for all three of you to drop out quickly and let me have the Million bucks, but hey, not on the very first day!" So, that was it! Without missing a beat I came back with," "Oh really?  So, what are YOU doing back here, yourself?" She smiled and pointed to a distant tree on the other side of the road, from whence she had come." I dropped my pack and came back for my duffle bag first, so I don't have to rush around later, after I...."    " Uhuh."  I responded." So, you do it your way, and I'll do it mine." I said, slipping the key back into my pocket,and reaching for my duffle bag. Something about her ways made me suspicious, and I decided to take my duffle bag with me now, and I hefted it out of the jeep, and turned and left her there, going back the way I had come.From the vantage point of the crest of that hill, I could easily see now, where I had been headed. Down in that  sea of grass, I hadn't sight of it, but no more than a hundred yards from where I had upended my pack and slightly to the south, was a large old tree,and close by, a clear running stream, that looked like ribbon of silver that meandered through the meadow. A windbreak, shelter, kindling and fresh water for drinking and washing, and clear, level ground for the tent and my fire both...it all looked to be perfect for my campsite.The next thing I remember, was some time later. Weeks had gone by, and the Jeep was gone, and I was sick...and obviously pregnant.I stumbled into my tent and sprawled on my sleeping bag, and fell unconscious. The next thing was waking up in someones house, in a bed. They evidently had found me,and were taking care of me. They were feeding me tea and soup, and telling me the doctor had said that I was suffering from diabetes caused by my pregnancy, and I hadn't even known I was pregnant! Then, on the television, I saw a story. They were talking about me! How they had gone looking for me when it came time for everyone to meet back at the jeep,and they couldn't find my campsite, so they reported me missing. But, that if I was alive, obviously I had survived longer in the wild than anyone else, so I won the Million dollars! I woke up wondering how I was going to sneak back to my campsite without anyone knowing that someone else had been taking care of me! Now THAT  is a weird dream!

OUI?