Category: Dream State

Fall in (Love With) Tallahassee

Our leaves don’t really do much in the way of changing here. So far I’ve seen no garnets or golds other than those on the clothes adorning the fanatical fans of Florida State football. The morning temps are much cooler, though, than they were just two weeks ago, and the afternoons are gloriously sunny and warm. If I had a friend, we’d sit out on the back porch and drink our coffee as we watched the light play across the lake. Instead, I watch Criminal Minds and CSI:Miami reruns and do laundry.

But I imagine adopting a certain languor while reclining in the early November sun, an SPF 50 or above on any exposed body part. Even in my imagination I must be skin conscious. My non-existent friend offers to fetch us a drink refill, but no, I insist on getting it. We’ve exchanged our coffee for tea now. Sweetened for her, unsweetened for me. I hang up some clothes while I’m inside the house and start another load.

When I return, Adam Levine is stretched out on the chaise longue. He tells me my other friend had to leave to do laundry of her own. I’m momentarily uncertain of my next step, but Adam accepts the tea and we continue talking as if nothing has changed. Adam begins singing a song he’s composed just for me. I might be in love. With Tallahassee.

Peace, People.

Defrost the Kangaroo

One night last week I had a dream that I can’t quite shake. I was in the home of a friend and we were cooking dinner. It must have been for a special occasion, like Thanksgiving or Christmas because there were a dozen or more people milling around. My friend asked me to take the goose out of the freezer so it could thaw. A simple enough request except that she had at least ten freezers spaced around the kitchen, and I couldn’t find the goose in any of them.

Finally I found a butcher paper wrapped item that looked to be the right size and shape. I decided to unwrap it so it would thaw more quickly. Imagine my surprise when a quite alive and lively kangaroo emerged from the paper. She hopped around a bit before fleeing the kitchen. No one seemed even a little bit surprised.

I never did find the goose, but by then the dream moved on, as dreams often do, to a scene in which I was sleeping outside under a blanket of stars. Ok, I’d love some interpretation.

Peace, People!

World One

Last night’s dream:

I trained for living on an alien world for many months (years?). Videos of a flooded, forested planet were studied in great detail. I was told our housing had been erected among the trees–durable, functional tree cubes.

The journey to our new world was a long one, so we (myself and three fellow anonymous travelers) were placed into a state of suspended animation aboard a craft capable of traveling at speeds faster than that of light. My education continued while I slept, in the form of dreams within my dreams. I wondered if I’d recognize being awake when I woke.

In the middle of a cautionary tale about massive, carnivorous turtles our interstellar journey ended. Fortunately I had dreamt of these turtles before, so I knew to give them a wide berth.

We had landed in a marsh near our new abode, and our ship easily converted into a water craft to deliver us safely. I don’t recall climbing the tree, but I must have because soon I was exploring my cozy little dwelling.

Basically each of us had our own little cube with built in cots and storage units. Our cubes were connected to one another’s by a covered walkway with a shared living/cooking space in the middle. There were hammocks hanging outside of our cubes for off hours relaxation. I also remember laughing about the shared privy at the end of a long walkway. One of our first decisions as a team was to agree on rules for the use and care of this toilet.

We quickly fell into our routines as explorers and researchers. I was tasked with learning as much as I could about the flora of our new home. What was edible? What was toxic? What plants might benefit mankind back on earth? Every day I ventured farther from our home tree to gather specimens and conduct tests.

One day I saw a craft similar to the one we’d arrived in land just a mile or so from our tree. I alerted my co-workers and we gathered to observe the new arrivals. Imagine our delight when two dogs emerged from the pod. One was a Golden Labrador puppy and the other was a small brown and white mixed breed dog.

The Lab jumped into the water and began swimming toward us. Soon we were hugging and petting this charming addition to our lives. The little mutt stood shaking in the pod. One of my companions rowed out to get him, but the little dog panicked and jumped into the water. We all laughed as he realized he could swim and began paddling happily to his new home. Then, I saw a huge turtle heading toward him underwater.

We began urging our coworker to paddle faster, faster, but the turtle was faster yet and devoured the little guy. I woke up in tears.

Interpretations welcomed.

Peace, People