So I had a bit of a breakdown on Monday, and ever since then I've been suffering from these terrible nightmares. They are a combination of Harry Potter, Titanic, and an aquarium filled with chained-down killer fish (that could easily break free and come after me, and yes, don't ask me how this is possible when we're not all underwater). I have no idea where these random things come from or why they put themselves together in my head, but I swear I'm absolutely exhausted from waking up all night long, terrified out of my skin. The worst is when Dobby from Harry Potter attacks me, pinning me up against a railing as he threatens me with his blood-stained teeth.
Experts say our dreams are manifestations of our fears, desires, etc. I'm guessing that my little breakdown on Monday is the reason for these killer-fish dreams. So far there has been no blood in the dreams (except for Dobby's teeth), but as me and my group of tourists (I guess they are tourists) are being guided through this Harry Potter/Titanic/aquarium thingy, we are told many stories of the giant clam who has eaten people. The scariest thing of all is how the tour guide tells these stories, nonchalantly, as if she could care less if the clam were to slurp one of us up right then and there.
Shudder.
One of my biggest fears is to be eaten by a giant clam, didn't you know? To be stuck in a tight, smelly, wet, sloppy space and slowly be digested, screaming and writhing in the pain the entire time.
Yes, I have an overactive imagination.
I don't know if I have a point here today, but it sure does feel good to get all this out of my head. Maybe my nightmares will go away now, replaced with unicorns and cupcakes and happy dewdrops. Or maybe this is just good fodder for a short story. I think my dreams often get tucked away into my subconscious for ideas later - and I often forget all about them. What about you and your dreams? Any strange ones lately?
Now that you mention it, there was an owl which tried to steal my ocarina. Then I had to kill everyone.
ReplyDelete"I woke up covered in blood and there they were" (sleeve note from a Handsome Family album)
Okay, that's morbidly funny. Did you kill the owl, too? :)
DeleteI almost never remember my dreams. When I'm unhappy, though, I know that I dream of freight trains and forest fires. Freight trains riding through burning forests or burning cities. Et cetera.
ReplyDeleteEvery night I tell myself I'm going to dream of kittens and daffodils. Maybe I do.
Those kinds of dreams make sense for you, Scott. The freight train ones, not the daffodils. Okay, maybe the daffodils, too. I think that's all anyone should ever dream about. We'd all be happier.
DeleteMy dreams are beyond strange. I haven't had one where I could fly for a while, I like those dreams. They're fun.
ReplyDeleteI never have those dreams. :(
DeleteAs a teenager, I had this recurring dream where all of my fish would suddenly swim out of the aquarium and occupy the corners of my room. It wasn't exactly a nightmare, but it was frustrating as I would try and catch them. When I'm sick, I have a recurring nightmare about being at the bottom of some stairs that have pebbles strewn over them, and I'm trying to get to the door at the top of the stairs. When I try to move the pebbles, they end up being incredibly heavy, and I'm helpless.
ReplyDeleteThis is why you write such great stories, I'm convinced. Those are freaky, but deep and interesting dreams/nightmares... :)
DeleteMy dreams usually involve flying or being naked in public. Don't know what that signifies. Maybe I need to get one of those books for interpreting dreams.
ReplyDeleteMy naked in public nightmares went away after I gave birth to my daughter and pretty much felt naked in public. Guess I got that over with... I would like one of those books for interpreting dreams. Knowing me, I would start analyzing things way too much!
DeleteJohnny Depp turned up on my front porch in a recent dream, but he had the wrong address. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteUsually when I'm anxious/stressed, I wind up being chased in a nightmare by whatever I saw/read about most recently -- zombies, vampires, Superbowl football teams...very frenetic and sweat-inducing and no fun at all.
I've had the flying dreams in the past, very cool. Lately I've had a lot of swimming dreams. I'm just swimming a lot -- diving, able to breathe underwater, either in a really huge pool or sometimes just floating lazily down a river on my back...they're very, very relaxing. I take this as a good sign that I'm finally conquering my anxiety issues.
Good luck conquering yours, Michelle.
Alex, mmm, the Johnny Depp on your porch dream is better than cupcakes and unicorns...until he says it's the wrong address. Sadness. I want your floating water dreams. I'm going to convince my subconscious to have those tonight.
ReplyDeleteYou have an incredible imagination! I love Cinders. And I'm looking forward to the 3 in 1 from your publisher. (I just sent you an email) I'll be following you here at the lab!
ReplyDeleteAnn Best, Author of In the Mirror & Other Memoirs