I'm returning from a hike, walking downward on a sidehill. Somebody is walking with me, and he says the we very well may see a cougar. Really? I'm pretty excited about that.

Across the low foliage in the waning light, I see the black head of a cougar nestled in the grass and point it out to my friend. Look, there it is!

Then it starts running toward us, though now it looks like a cheetah, and we wonder if it is after us, but it runs close by and streaks past us. Then he turns and makes another pass. We see him pounce and eat a raccoon and some other small creatures; obviously he's hungry. Do they eat people? I don't think they like to, but we hurry along toward the car.

Just as we arrive back at the car I am attacked by a huge lion. He is definitely after me, roaring and swatting. I jump up on the roof of the car, but there is not much I could possibly do to fend him off. Somehow a donkey gets involved, and chases the lion away. Whew, good thing that donkey was around.

I get in the car, which is small and seats only four, but there are five of us. Why are there five? I thought there were only four, both my parents and somebody else. Then they remind me that I had promised Phil Anselmo (*) a ride home, so he is the extra person. Oops. Well, we'll just have to cram in.

(*) Phil was the lead singer of Pantera. I don't think I knew that, after the dream I had to look him up.