The Dream is Always the Same

I have this recurring dream. I've been having it since my late teens or early twenties. I don't have it often, maybe once a year or every other year. And it isn't like what I normally think of as a recurring dream. That is, it isn't the same every time. Instead, it is progressive. I'll explain.

When I first had the dream, maybe 20 years ago, it went like this: I was on the top of a tall building, very high up, and I was standing on the edge holding 2 clip boards. It was scary. It was maybe 15 or 20 stories tall in the downtown area of a city I didn't recognize. I could see people and cars far below. Then a violent gust of wind came up and knocked me off the edge and I plummeted towards the grown below. I could feel that queasy falling feeling in the pit of my stomach as the ground rushed up to meet me.

Then, and I can't explain why I did this, I put a clip board in each hand and held them parallel to the ground in a desperate attempt to slow my fall. And it worked. I could feel the pressure of the air against the clip boards as they pushed my arms up. The more I pushed down against the air, the slower I fell until I crashed landed on the ground below me. I had slowed down enough to land safely, if not still violently. Then I woke up. It was a very vivid dream and I could remember every detail and every physical sensation of falling and landing. It stayed with me all day.

A year or so later I had the same dream. Same rooftop, same vividly experienced height. Same clip boards. But this time I remembered my previous dream and instead of waiting for the gust of wind to blow me off the edge, I grasped the clipboards firmly in each hand and jumped. This time I glided in a gentle spiral down to the ground and landed much more gently than the last time. Then I woke up with the same vivid memory of each visual and physical detail that stayed with me all day.

After that I kept having the dream every year or two. Every time it was a lucid dream, meaning I knew I was dreaming and could consciously act within the dream. The specifics would change, though. Instead of spiraling down to the ground I learned to control my glide so that I could travel a distance. After 8 or 10 years of this I finally learned that I didn't need the clipboards any more. I could support myself in the air merely by spreading my hands out and using them to grab the air currents. Every time I had the dream I got better and better at it. I learned to soar and it was exhilarating. I would find myself in the dream and look for a big building I could leap off of and take an elevator to the top. Then I'd spend the dream catching the updrafts and swerving in and out of buildings until I glided to the ground.

Two nights ago I had the dream again. It has been a number of years since the last one. Like usual, I greeted it like an old friend. I was standing on the top of a big parking structure in a remote area. As soon as I realized it was the dream I sprinted towards the edge of the roof and, without looking beforehand or caring what was below me I launched myself into the air and glided around until I hit the ground running. Then I sprinted back to the parking structure, up the stairs and did it all over again. I must have done that a dozen times before I finally woke up.

I don't know what there is about my psyche that prompts these dreams, but I love them. I love that each one is different and that I get better and better at flying each time. I love that I feel like I can look forward to them year after year. If not like clockwork then at least in a predictable sequence. I'm looking forward to the time in the dream when I can fly up from the ground instead of just gliding down from high up.

I figure if I have around 40 more years to live, that should be around 20-25 more dreams, if they keep happening. Maybe by the end I can achieve orbit.

Homeschool Article

Here's an article about how homeschooling is becoming more mainstream.

Feeling Thankful

Happy Holidays everyone! Just a quick note to say I am thankful for this year. I know it isn't quite over yet, but it has been a good year for our family, and we are all pretty darn happy.

Hawksbill graduated from U of M with his MSW, I found a new half-time job that is turning out to be pretty fun, and Hawksbill will be starting another part-time job on Monday through one of his other part-time jobs. So between the two of us, we technically have 5 part-time jobs, but you gotta do what you gotta do in these times. It is nice to know between the two of us, we have enough skills to take on a variety of jobs, and we know if we have to, we will do anything to take care of our family.

We are thankful for our friends, old and new, and hope the season is treating them well. I had a wonderful birthday last week, and happy to report I will be a perfect square for this whole next year. Simon and Gwen are "growing like weeds" and have been having fun in our little homeschool.

If anyone is keeping track (and thanks for all of my grown-up friends last night for listening to my potty training woes) but for the record, Gwen is no closer to being potty trained than the day she was born. Yes, I know she will be 4 years old next month, but she promised when she turned 4, she will start going on the potty. I have to say, if this is my biggest worry or complaint in my life, then life is pretty good.

My family is healthy, we have a wedding to look forward to next year, we are plugging along and enjoying our lives. I just wanted to say thank you to all of our friends, and we are looking forward to seeing more of you over the holidays, and wish you all the very best!!

I also wanted to say Happy Holidays to the entire city of Detroit--it has been a crazy year, but I hope the new year will bring new prosperity to the city. I love Detroit and have worked there for more than 10 years now, and hope that others would come and visit the downtown and new center areas and see what the city has to offer.

Happy Holidays and Keep WARM!!!!

Happy 50th Anniversary

Thursday, November 27, 2008 was my parents' 50th Wedding Anniversary. In true Catholic fashion, they had 8 children. In fact, we like to say, "Our parents are so Catholic, their names are 'Mary and Joseph'". Um....Actually, that isn't a joke...those are their real names.....all of us kiddos are named after saints, of course.

Some fun facts on my family (since I like numbers)....since my mom had 8 children, that means she was pregnant for 72 months, or 6 years of her life. There are 5 boys and 3 girls in my family --all 5 boys came first, followed by the 3 girls (I was the 7th child born). My oldest sister turned 40, 2 days before my parents' anniversary which means they had 6 of their 8 children before their 10th anniversary. In fact, my mom had 5 boys before she was 30. I have a new appreciation for her having so many kids after watching 5 children last weekend as a present for my sister's birthday. {{Shudder}}

My 3rd brother was born in a hospital which is now a jail (so he likes to say he was born in jail). My older sister was an "accidental" home birth (and the only home birth). It just happened that way. My mom was also pretty shocked to have a girl...she figured after 5 boys that was all she was having....

My dad was born in '36 and turned 72 this year. I was born in '72, so I will be turning 36 before the end of the month. Also, my dad and I were both born the year of the Rat. I am sure plenty will say that is appropriate for both of us....My mom was born on the exact date that Amelia Earhart went missing. I'll make you look that date up. :)

My parents were actually married on Thanksgiving Day in 1958, and their 50th anniversary was also Thanksgiving Day, 2008. (Yes, they served turkey at their wedding--we had our party this year on Saturday so we opted to not have turkey that day).

At my parents' 25th wedding anniversary, my oldest sibling, J, announced his engagement to T and they will be celebrating their 25th anniversary next September. At my parents' 50th anniversary last week, my youngest sibling, K, announced her engagement to M. They will be married next September (actual date pending--but should be close to exactly 25 years after my oldest sibling was married).

All of my siblings still live in the metro Detroit area, which is a pretty amazing feat considering the economy around here. 4 of my brothers work for the auto industry (one for Ford, one for GM, one for Chrysler and one for Delphi). Keep your fingers crossed for all of them (and the rest of us working in this area!!!) My dad worked for Ford Tractor for his entire career before taking early retirement in 1987.

I am sure I could come up with a lot more, but I don't know who (besides me) would be interested...so Happy Golden Anniversary, Mom and Dad!!!