Tequila Mist

I had this dream back in late October of 2004:

In the University of Minnesota astronomy TA office, I find a cool looking hat. I put it on and leave the office for band practice at my church—which is actually my old church of 4 years ago and led by a pastor who left 5 years ago.

Halfway into the first song, I catch myself falling behind tempo and having a hard time concentrating. No problem, I just put some extra mental energy into it. The problem persists, though, and I start feeling a bit drowsy and lightheaded. One of my drumsticks falls out of my hand as my vision fades slightly. I manage to finish the song single-handed before falling off the drum throne and passing out on the floor. Eventually I return to the TA office where a graduate student informs me that the hat is a “tequila mist hat”, which surrounds the wearer with a fine mist of tequila, causing a slow and steady intoxication.

Shortly after I dreamt this, a good friend volunteered his interpretation:

I thought maybe it was a comparison of your astronomy hat to your drumming hat where you felt like you were inadequate at something in astronomy. However, now I’d suggest that another possibility is that maybe you’re feeling a little conflict between your musical self and your scientist self.

I wasn’t too sold on his analysis back in 2004, but now I think there’s some truth to it. I’ll never give up science or music, and I’m doing my best scheming to simultaneously pursue both professionally.