People from the Caribbean are always talking about their dreams. Not necessarily their long term goals, but the nocturnal productions that happen in their minds when they go to bed at night. Anyone who is of West Indian descent can relate to the dining room discussions of dreams, their interpretations and significance.

My granny and I were always sharing weird dream stories. She would often tease me and then comment, that it must have been something that I ate before bedtime that gave me such a vivid dream imagination. Granny and I would often talk about winning the lottery and church bazaars.

She would tell me about her grand ideas on how she would utilize her winnings, after retrieving it. I would sit there daydreaming about the whole process, usually these conversations always got me thinking, until one night, I had the dream of all dreams.

I dreamt that Granny and I went to Royal Ascot in London.

There we were, marching from Windsor Castle to the beautiful Berkshire Countryside, blocking traffic with Queen Ann, Princess Elizabeth and the rest of the Royals. Our journey to enjoy Royal Ascot Day began with us being surrounded by Lords, Kings, Queens, Princes and Princes in our pajamas. The one saving grace, was that we wore the most exquisite fedoras with matching gloves. Everyone seemed to admire our choice of millinery couture.

As we proceeded with pomp and circumstance I nudged Granny, "Lord, Granny couldn't we have been more presentable?"

She replied, "Sshh......it's a dream, no one will notice, just smile and wave."

I couldn't help but thinking, "If they all could see me know, little wire waist Margaret from Jamaica and her Granny blocking traffic with the Queen and her family. What a revelation!"

Granny and I continued to peruse the grounds observing the merriment from a closer point of view. As usual, no matter where you go in the world, there are always Jamaicans making themselves quite obvious.

A rastaman showed up at the gates of Ascot yelling. "I come in the name of Haile Selassie, The Emperor, and I am Lord Rasmuffin, I command you to open these gates!"

Everybody started flittering around as if the Queen had made an announcement. The rastaman and his entourage entered the pearly gates in their jaguar limousine with flags of Jamaica and Ethiopia adorning the vehicle on both sides.

For a minute, I got distracted, because my Granny took the opportunity to saunter over to the Queen and an Oil Sheik to tell them that they better repent because Jesus is coming again. Amidst the finery and regalia, I must admit that I was mortified. I thought for sure they would have us tossed from the exclusive event.

Instead, the Queen and her guests, most graciously extended an invitation to Granny and I to sit in her reserved box. Apparently Granny's yammering on about Jesus and the church had its rewards, because we had managed to firmly place ourselves in the crux of matters.

Feeling quite proud, and a sense of accomplishment, I started gazing around to see if I recognized anyone, however, there were no faces of familiarity. Then I looked a few furlongs, over with my binoculars at another seating area, there she was, a Jamaican woman that resembled Ms. Lou selling, hot milo and crackers to the crowd. Although she had put a whole different twist on the milo, calling it hot malted, and the crackers, tea biscuits. Again I thought, only a Jamaican can turn up at the most luxurious events toting traditional Jamaican food and making it palatable to foreigners.

Granny and I settled in, and began to enjoy the festivities of the event. While making pleasantries with our hosts, the Queen introduced us to the Princess of Glouchester, a very enchanting woman, who had a refined, yet unusual look. As she opened her mouth to speak, Granny and I realized she was Jamaican.

As charming as she was, she kept on and on about her country estates, her husband, the Prince of Glouchester and her terrier, "Agatha".

I turned to Granny, "Granny, this lady chat so much, is like she eat fowl bottom or something!"

"I know darling, it must be her nerves. The poor dear is like the energizer bunny. Pass her this bottle of Sanotogen for me. This should calm her nerves and she won't chat so much."

What was Granny doing with a bottle of Sanotogen at Ascot?

Never mind.... It was a dream, and dreams are supposed to be ridiculous.............

Granny laughed, "They should call this event Jascot, because I've met more Jamaican people here, than I have ever met at any foreign event."

They all started laughing.

Once again, she had managed to captivate the crowd.

I was doing my best to have a good time, but my thoughts kept wondering on the fact that we were sitting in Public in our pj's. The funny thing was, no one seemed to have noticed or even cared. Or maybe they thought we were eccentric. Whatever it was, it worked and we owned it!

When Granny and I left Ascot Day, everyone knew our names. The headlines read, " Two Jamaican wanderers made a grand appearance and conquered Ascot with wit and charm."

Somehow I knew it had to be a dream.............

"Beep! Beep! Beep!" I was awakened to the sound of my alarm.

It was indeed a dream.

I told Granny about our grand appearance at Royal Ascot. She wasn't impressed. She dryly answered, "Read your bible before you go to bed and stop eating those June Plums at bedtime, because they're giving you nightmares!"

I continued, "But Granny, I think this could be BIG! HUGE! Maybe I'm going to win the lottery or maybe we're going to Ascot afterall."

Granny turned to me and said, "You know what I think? Anywhere you want to go, or whatever you want to be. God can take you there. When you arrive, Be Confident! And if anyone objects, or feels uneasy because you're there, just let them know, "You may not like the fact that I'm here, but there is something about me that the Almighty adores."

"Ms. Mags, that will eat at them right to the core."

So, as I reflect on Granny's absence in my life, and not being able to tell her of my dreams and aspirations. I can only whisper to her, "Dream a little dream of me sometime...."