Arcadian fantasies

In a dream the other night, I was working at my college, but the campus didn't look anything like the real place. It was located in the same city, but this dreamland place was a nice Euro-style city situated on a placid small river. The dormitories and classroom buildings were clean, smart, modern, sort of like upscale IKEA -- placidly looking over the riverside parks, the paths and walking bridges. People were tossing frisbees and looking smart. Students were smiling. Moms and Dads pushing baby strollers. Old folks on benches engaged in wise conversation. Happy dogs wagging tails... Very idyllic, and absolutely nothing in common with the real world. The city where I work is possibly the poorest, most dangerous place in Pennsylvania. It's the ass end of our commonwealth. Freud said all dreams were wish fulfillments. I don't think that's categorically true, but this noctural fantasy certainly qualifies.

In academic dreamland, the students are friendly and pay attention, the teachers are dedicated and electrifying, even the sanitation workers have genuine smiles. Everyone is beautiful and healthy. Republican administrations are a dim memory. The terrorists have picked up their bombs and gone home. Cars and buses run on clean energy. The trains are filled with happy urbanites and they run on time. The skies are a little bluer, the clouds puffier, the rain softer.