Just remembered a conversation I had last night. Realized it was in a dream. I was discussing the price of chicken backs with another woman, a stranger. This reminded me of something that happened (in waking life) when I was very young. I told the stranger my story.
"I was married when I was still in high school. My husband and I didn't own a TV so we used to walk over the the University of Illinois Student Union to watch in the evening. On this particular evening, I had to leave early so I could study for a French exam.
It was a spring evening, getting dark. As I was walking to our little basement apartment, a man fell into step beside me. He acted friendly and nice. Then he asked me to come home with him.
I'd been raised to be very polite in all circumstances. "No thanks," I replied. "I have to study tonight for a French exam tomorrow."
Mentioning "French" seemed to have the unfortunate effect of making him even more interested. I kept declining. Finally he said, "Well, if you'll come home with me for just a little while, I'll pay you $50 and you'll still have time to study for your French exam."
This talk of paying me got me all huffy. Indignantly, I exploded.
"Listen, I buy three pounds of chicken backs for 19 cents a pound, ten cents when they're on sale. With these chicken backs I can make soup that lasts us a whole week! I don't need your $50 at all!"
He gave up. I think he was so surprised by all the information about the chicken backs that he was overwhelmed. I got home safely, feeling extremely proud of my thrifty culinary skills. I think I did well on the French exam too."
Interpreting this dream:
Recently a major computer client took over most of the work I've been doing, to do inhouse. So I've been anxious about income. This dream seems like an obvious message to relax and remember my skills in living inexpensively.
It's true that I do have these skills. I know a lot of ways to live very pleasurably with very low income. I just need to be reminded of this. The dream did it very well.
Why did the dream choose this form? Maybe the invitation to prostitute myself has some application too. A reminder that I don't need to change or distort the art I'm doing, in order to earn a living as an artist? A reminder that integrity comes first? I'm about to plunge into trying ebay sales for my small paintings. It could be tempting to change the way I paint to suit this market. Many people would not only see nothing wrong with this, but would think it appropriate. I need to go by my own standards here.
2:31:49 PM 
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