I arrive at the apartment of my old San Francisco friend Carol Clements, but I think she lives in Portland. My brother Steve is with me. I haven't seen Carol in many years (in the dream, as in real life). The apartment is not very large, but open, a kitchen and a living room connected by an open arch. Steve sits down on the couch. Carol seems kind of awkward, and busies herself in the kitchen.

I ask Carol how it's going, and she doesn't have much to say. I ask her about her husband, is he still in San Francisco? Yes. Is he still studying surfactants (as he was in the 90's when I knew them in real life)? Yes. How is her sister?