In Dreams

I’ve talked in the past about how I no longer have nightmares. It’s true… I haven’t had one in about 15 years now.

But I DO have ONE recurring dream, which is pretty odd and unsettling.

I have had this same dream over and over and over again over the years. I just had it again last night, which is what prompted this post, but I’d say I’ve had variations of this dream at least 20-30 times in the past 10 years or so.

As I said, there is always a slightly different setting, or beginning, but the gist is always the same:

I am outside, and I get into a car. Sometimes its my car, sometimes its not, but whatever I’m driving, I am in a hurry, so I pop it into reverse, hit the gas hard and start to back up.

The problem is, I am driving ridiculously fast, in reverse. Also, in all these dreams, I can NEVER see where I am going. Sometimes, there is something in the back seat blocking my rear vision. Sometimes, I am unable to turn my neck to see behind me. Sometimes, for some reason, I jump into the back seat while the car continues to scream its way in reverse.

In all these dreams, I know that I am seconds away from hitting something. I KNOW it. I sit there waiting for the inevitable collision that I am unable to see approaching, but it never comes.
Other cars, pedestrians, buildings….. They all whiz by me at breakneck speed….

But the collision never comes.

I wouldn’t say it’s a nightmare. It’s not like I wake up in a cold sweat or anything, but I always awake with an unsettling feeling.

My guess is that the dream stems from unconsciously feeling out of control of my destiny, but what I know about psychology you could fit on the end of a pencil point, and probably still have some room left over.

So c’mon, you smart guys and gals out there. Anyone have a dream analysis book handy?