I had the most vivid dream last night. I haven't dreamed in a long while - at least anything I can remember. Yesterday's was a long dream but I only remember the last parts before I woke up.

I was walking up a wooden staircase with a friend and an acquaintance. It felt like a spring day, just light and pleasant. At the top of the stairs as I turned to go to the right and come out on to a meadow, with my friend and our acquaintance following close behind me, I stopped as I saw two birds on our left. I quickly glanced at the smaller round yellow and blue bird that was flapping its wings and then stared at the dark red bird that was perched on a wooden post. The dark red brown bird was huge and majestic. Its posture resembled a hawk or eagle. It sat squarely upon the post and stared at me, eyes unflinching. Its eyes gleamed and discerning. I was both attracted and a little afraid of it, saying to my friends, "Look at the bird!"

My friend gasped and said, "Woah!"

I nodded at him and said, "I think it's a hawk."

We stared for a moment and then went out into the meadow. It was a beautiful day. The meadow felt familiar like the small park by the Winooski River in Montpelier. There was someone in the distance that we needed to go to. We started to go towards him.

There were yellow flowers everywhere next to the green grass and the smooth granite rocks. I felt it could not be more beautiful. I thought I could lie down on the grass and play with the flowers. It looked so inviting.

Then on my right, I saw a cougar lying on a rock! It was a magnificent cougar, with a tan, gray and white body and intelligent dark eyes. She stretched before us. I was mesmerized. I wanted to go near the cougar but also was unsure. Her eyes were barely open but she sensed me and then as I approached, she did not budge but seemed to welcome it.

Everything felt so vivid and real. I looked to my left and then woke up.