And here's the sad dream...
This dream I had just this morning. I want to type it out now before I forget anything.
This is a Sesame Street dream that takes place on the present day street. It all looked Season 37-ish.
First off, it was one of those half-viewing/half-interacting dreams. At times, I was walking along Sesame Street, interacting with the characters. Other times, it felt like I was watching it on TV.
So anyway, the opening theme happens and you get the "pan-across-the street-shot". I'm then suddenly there, face to face with Maria. She speaks directly to me, yet is addressing the whole TV viewing audience.
Apparently, something big is about to happen. Maria's all dressed up. She's wearing about the same outfit Gilda Radner wore in the Pirates of Penzance
here, bonnet and all, only all in in white. She's even wearing those fingerless lace gloves like
these. In one hand, she has a digital camcorder.
Maria: "Oh hi! Welcome to Sesame Street. You're just in time. Today is the big day. Linda is getting married today! Now, you remember we've been planning this for a long, long time." (Sighs). "You know, I remember when Linda and Lee first met."
Let's stop there. Yes, Linda has not only returned to the street in this dream, but she has fallen in love with a man named "Lee". No it wasn't
this Lee. The "Lee" pictured looked like your average "blonde Caucasian anchorman with parted, short haircut"-type.
So back to the dream. The "remembering chimes" sound kicks in, framing the "screen" of my dream with the fuzzy edges they use in these "remembering" sequences.
Maria: "I remember when Lee asked Linda out to their first dance. Linda didn't know how to dance, so we had to teach her. Me, Luis and the Count, that is."
(The screen shows Luis dancing a waltz with Linda next to Hooper's Store as the Count counts the steps as he dances with Maria).
"One two three! One two three! Ah ah ah ah ah!" (Thunder and lightning light up the two couples).
Maria narrates over the next montage of clips: "And then the big night came for the dance. Lee came to pick Linda up in his car..." (A shiny limo-like car rolls up in front of 123 Sesame Street. Linda is wearing a red sparkling dress and Lee is in a black tux. A bunch of the Sesame gang is near the front stoop, ooh-ing and ahh-ing. Oscar pops out of his can, sees the couple and the car. "This is revolting! Clean clothes, clean, shiny car! This is sickening!")
Maria (continues): "Telly and Baby Bear knew that Linda was deaf, so they made big, colorful signs on construction paper for her to read. Telly was worried Linda would forget to have fun, dance and be happy on her date."
Telly: "Quick, Baby Bear! Hold up your signs!"
Baby Bear: "Wight, Telly!" (Baby Bear holds up two crayoned signs with the word DANCE on one and FUN on the other. Telly's has HAPPY on it).
Maria (continues): "And soon after, Linda and Lee fell in love. Lee learned sign language and asked Linda to marry him." (Clip shows Lee signing 'Will you marry me?' Linda nods tearfully). "Soon, just like with Luis and I, everybody helped get things ready for the wedding."
(A clip montage of different Sesame characters volunteering to do different things happens).
Elmo: "Elmo will use his tricycle and take Lee's suit to the dry cleaners!" (shot of Elmo peddling away with Lee's suit on a hanger, hooked to the back of the trike. It drags along the ground as Elmo peddles).
Zoe: "I'll help you Elmo!" (Zoe lifts the suit slightly off the ground and walks after his trike).
Big Bird: "Since I am tall, I can hang decorations!" (Big Bird is seen hooking a banner to the fire escape). "And...oh yeah. I gotta help Bob."
Grover: "And I, furry little Grover will help with the balloons!" (Grover is seen with a huge bunch of colorful balloons, decorating the arbor).
Cookie Monster: "And
me going to take care of the wedding cake! Ha ha ha ha ha! Dum dee dum dee dum." (Cookie trots offscreen from the arbor area. Gordon, next to Hooper's, freezes in his task of sweeping up. He drops the broom and chases Cookie. "NO!"
Hoots: (chuckling as Cookie and Gordon run by. Hoots is at the stoop, with a group of kids sitting on the steps with Bob).
Cookie's voice in the distance: "But me only going to take
teeny bite to make sure it okay for wedding!"
Hoots: "And I'm in charge of the music for the weddin'! Now are you sure about this, Bob? You sure you don't want to do it?"
This is where it gets a little sad. Bob isn't looking well, but he's trying to hide it. It's clear he wants to be with the kids to make sure everything sounds right. He smiles, apparently happy that Linda and Lee are going to be married, but something is wrong. You can see it in his eyes. He doesn't speak either. He just smiles and shakes his head.
Hoots: (shrugs) "Okay Bob. You just let us know if we hit a flat. Hee hee hee! Okay kids, let's try 'One Small Voice'..."
(The scene now is back to Maria on the street).
Maria: "So you see there's a lot that has to be done for a wedding, and..." (church bells start to clang) "...hear that? It's time! The wedding will start any minute! Let's go!"
The scene now is an incredibly packed church. Sort of like the scene in Manhattan Melodies, but with about twice the people and Muppets. Oscar is seen, looking uncomfortable and bored sitting between Elmo and Herry. Maria is there, filming everything with her camcorder.
I have no idea who was ring bearer, best man, or any of that. I didn't even see Linda and this "Lee" guy. I just remember seeing the minister (unfamiliar white female with glasses and her hair in a bun) at the front from where I sat. I noticed that two seats were empty. One was huge, the other was normal-sized.
Next to the altar was a door at the front of the church. The minister cleared her throat, about to begin the service. Just then, the door opened. There was Big Bird with his formal tie on. He was carefully helping someone into the church, his wing around the man's waist.
It was Bob.
Big Bird: "It's OK, Bob. Step by step. It's okay, I'm helping you."
Bob, dressed in a light blue tux, was having trouble walking and looked very nervous. He still didn't speak. Gordon and Luis immediately came up to help Bob to the empty seat.
The minister asked Big Bird "Is he OK?"
Big Bird: (leaning in to whisper in the minister's ear): "Bob had a stroke." (the minister nodded and waited while Big Bird got settled in the big seat in front of me).
Big Bird: (addressing both me and the TV audience). "See, since Bob had the stroke, he can't talk very well now, and...he can't sing or play piano anymore either. He was worried that Linda would be upset about it. He wanted to play and sing at her wedding, but now he can't (eyelids drooping). So he told me to keep it a secret from her until after the wedding. He wants Linda to be happy."
Big Bird then turned around, patted Bob on the shoulder, and kept his wing there. Bob, still a little shaky, looked up at Big Bird and said in a slow, hoarse whisper: "Thank......you......Big......Bird."
I have no idea what happened next. (My alarm clock went off). But what a dream. (Shakes head).
Convincing John