happy thoughts like puppies and rainbows and flesh-eating zombies

I was wide awake at 6:30am and hadn't the slightest inclination for going back to bed despite only three hours of rest. And I had intended to sleep in today. I saw 28 Days Later ... with friends last night. One friend must have confused the name with some other movie and was under the impression we were going to see a chick flick. No, I corrected, a post-apocalyptic horror movie. Yeah, zombies or something. I returned home to a dark house and avoided going to bed for a long while. Happy thoughts, think happy thoughts. I read a little and tried to imagine pleasant things to dream about. I was stirred awake by birds chirping. So far so good, only nice dreams. I gazed drowsily at the window. Somewhere in that calm euphoric state of half sleep I was thinking about what I would do today. With open eyes I was watching sunlight stream in past the half-closed curtains when a set of half-rotted, blood-stained fingers reached up and grabbed my shoulder. I was bolt upright and shoving my back against the wall even before before I could inhale. Looking around at my empty room I knew immediately it was just a dream, but it still took a few minutes before I could peel my back away from the wall. I was still panting for a while after that. My heart was beating so fast my chest hurt, and 2 or 3 seconds after I sat up I felt tidal wave of adrenaline hit my brain. If the second strongest adrenaline rush in my life was like dunking my head in cold water, this was like plunging naked into arctic waters.

It will probably be several days before my back and shoulder muscles forgive me. Anyway, here is the friday five:

1. Do you remember your first best friend? Who was it?
Yes. Nicholas. He and I were inseperable for years, then his family moved to East Grinstead. We were both outcasts of a sort in school. He was diabetic and I was American even if I didn't sound it. But, we were quite a team. When one of the teachers in infant school talked about moving us to different classes we planned to sneak in one day in bear costumes and scare the teacher away forever. But, we ended up in the same class so we never had to execute our brilliant strategy.

2. Are you still in touch with this person?
Sadly, no. The last time we saw each other was when we were 18.

3. Do you have a current close friend?
Indeed, more than one. I'll pick Shane as an example.

4. How did you become friends with this person?
At Caltech, he was two years ahead of me.

5. Is there a friend from your past that you wish you were still in contact with? Why?
I'd love to find Nicholas again. And a guy called Andy. He and I had a particularly close bond and an aweful lot in common, at least for 12-year olds. The last I heard his family was in Kazakhstan. But, that was many years ago.