This morning, I was freakishly awoken by a brief, unusual vision that sort of reminded me of those awkward stare-offs on Conan O' Brien sans the humor factor.

Right off the bat, I am not good at staring contests.  In fact, if you're looking for a peppy staring club member to tour the country as you participate in regional or state stare-off tournaments/championships, I'm just not your woman.  With me, you might win a laughing or drawing/art competion, but most definitely not a stare-off.

So it surprised me that, in my vision/dream, I was able to lock eyes with a strange dude in my backyard for more than seven seconds.  He was tall, probably in his late-fifties, dark-haired and bearded, healthy looking (as in not too thin, but not obese, with a twinge of color to his cheeks in the midst of a rather fair complexion), clad in navy garb from head to ankle-- navy winter cap, navy jacket, navy pants.  And he crouched for a peek of our place from the left side of our wide, sliding back door (which is pretty much a huge window).

Here's the thing: I hadn't reacted in a fearful manner of the strange man.  Granted, I was a little surprised to find him back there.  But the fact that I looked him right in the eye for a long while meant a great deal.  I mean, telepathically, he may have sent a message of "I see you".  And, telepathically, I may have sent a message of "I've sticks and stones, and they will break your bones" right back. 

However, I'm left with a weird sensation in my heart that feels like compassion.  The man had a fatherly quality about him, and I'm almost translating this experience as someone watching over me versus someone trying to break into my apartment. 

And by the way, if anyone tries to break into my apartment, he/she is gonna have a slew of challenges in-store for him/herself including those aforementioned "sticks and stones", my hot-headed Bronx-warrior ass and a few beefy neighbors of mine.  Believe me, I have an anti-idiot map planned out that makes Macauley Culkin's look like a preschooler's first illustration.