Two days ago I was walking in Gent.  Across the street was a store called “De Punten”.  The wall was deep blue, and covered with huge sprawling words handpainted in yellow.

I stopped and stared.  I don’t remember any people being around.  Strangely for me, that didn’t matter.  I stared some more, thinking this place was important.

I smelled urine.  “Huh?”

Yesterday I’d occasionally mutter “De Punten”.  But I couldn’t remember what street it was on.  And then the store faded from my mind …

I awoke this morning with the same words on my lips.  When I thought “blue wall”, all that came up was the magnificent Italian restaurant Osteria.  “What’s happening here?”

I realized that “De Punten” were words in Dutch.  I checked Google Translate and found “the points”.  “What’s that have to do with anything?”

And as for the street, surely Google Maps could help.  Inputting “De Punten” gave me “Püntendamm” in Nordhorn, Germany.  Another “Huh?”

Okay, I’ll try your basic Google.  I searched for “Punten Gent” and up came “Post NL Pakketpunt” – a Netherlands mail service pick-up point.

***

What can I say?

Two nights ago I had a dream?

And last night the same one?

I wonder what is real