September 9, 2024 | Awake & Dreaming

I often come back to this post I wrote back in November of 2020 in which I wrote about a dream I had during the uncertainty of the pandemic, that humans from the far future visited us and offered to take all of us back with them to the future of well over 2000-3000 years from now. So now that we are all in our spaceship that is under my piloting and command, with everyone beamed up in their living units, it’s time to guide them to the food & drink replicators. It’s just about 6:30 pm as everyone is beamed in, so I tell everyone to get some snacks and a cool drink or coffee/tea and to also feed the pets.

So everyone orders some snacks or the other – cutlets, samosas, chicken fingers, French Fries, puff pastries, tater tots, chicken popcorn etc and drinks like colas or milkshakes or frappuccinos or fresh juices – and feeding the pets with cool water & vanilla or strawberry milk and dog chow. Shawny gets cold strawberry milk with real strawberries cut up in them and some mix treats of beef chunks. She hungrily gobbles it up and drinks the milk, slowly enjoying the cold milk and chunks. Since our units are locked off to filter off all the virus, we have to all connect via the video consoles available in each room With everyone satiated for the while – as we need bigger meals due to the food being replicated rather than real food – I check with everyone and they are all settled in.

As we run through the rules and then checking with our future humans, I co-ordinate with my spoc and we set off into space, traveling several times the speed of light. Everyone says goodbye to the earth with some sadness but also excitement about what awaits us. So much technology at our fingertips and life is so much more easier now. By 9 pm everyone is hungry again and so we all settle at our respective dining tables in our units and eat a big dinner. My parents are having fried rice with some chicken and salads as my dad drinks a cold lager, while my mother drinks a strawberry & banana milkshake on my recommendation. I drink a stout and chow down a large sausage, bacon & mushroom pizza while Shawny eats a big meal of rice mixed with chicken & carrots. With more cold milk in a big bowl next to her.

By 11 everyone is feeling sleepy so I tell them to get to bed. My parents get nightwear from the cloth replicator in their bedroom and then lie down. I go and check on them and say good night. My mom calls out the command to have the lights switch off. I check with my sister and her family and the kids are all in bed, followed by my sister & brother-in-law. A quick video call with the rest and I am sure that they all in bed, including the pets. I am now changed into my pjs and I get into bed, as Shawny climbs in and lies near my feet. I then command the ship’s system to release the gas into the rooms to put us all into a deep sleep for atleast 8 hours, while it also pumps in pure fresh air along with nutrients in gaseous form that are all good for you, fixing our health as we sleep.

Half asleep, I look at Shawny struggling to stay awake and softly wagging her tail that thumps on my leg with each wag. Soon that too stops as she is softly snoring while in a deep sleep and my eyes close as I have a smile on my face and I too fall into a deep slumber for 8 hours, knowing my whole family is cozy in bed and safe while traveling to the distant star system. The auto pilot has long taken over and we head out into space along with several other small & large ships, carrying humans & animals into a brighter & better future.

The Phantom is a fascinating character with a rich history in comic book lore. Here are some fun facts about “The Ghost Who Walks”:

First Costumed Superhero: The Phantom, created by Lee Falk, made his debut on February 17, 1936. He is widely regarded as the first superhero to wear a skin-tight costume, setting the template for many superheroes that followed, including Superman.
Generational Legacy: The Phantom’s identity is passed down from father to son, creating the illusion of an immortal hero who has been fighting evil for over 400 years. The current Phantom is the 21st in the line.
Origin Story: The first Phantom, Christopher Walker, was the lone survivor of a pirate attack in 1536. After washing ashore on the fictional Bangalla coast (initially located in Asia and later Africa), he swore an oath on the skull of his father’s murderer to fight evil, thus beginning the legacy.
The Skull Ring: The Phantom wears two distinctive rings. One of them, the Skull Ring, leaves a mark of a skull when he punches someone, symbolizing the person has been judged by the Phantom. The other ring, known as the Good Mark, is given to those who have helped or allied with the Phantom.
Secret Lair: The Phantom lives in the Skull Cave, hidden deep in the Bangalla jungle. This cave, shaped like a human skull, serves as his headquarters and holds a treasure room containing centuries of Phantom artifacts.
Never Shows His Face: In the world of the comics, the Phantom’s face is never shown to the public. Even his close allies and friends refer to him only by his title and not by his real name.
The Phantom’s Belt: The Phantom wears a utility belt with a skull buckle. This belt contains various tools and weapons, including his signature .45 caliber pistols.
Cultural Impact: The Phantom has a massive following, particularly in countries like Australia, Sweden, and India. He has been featured in various media, including television shows, movies, and even his own postage stamps in some countries.
Animal Companions: The Phantom is often accompanied by his faithful wolf, Devil, and his horse, Hero. These animals are not only his companions but also symbols of his connection with nature and his prowess as a jungle hero.
Not a Superhuman: Unlike many superheroes, the Phantom does not have superhuman powers. His strength, intelligence, and combat skills come from intense training and his vast knowledge passed down through generations.