Redefining Nightmares

When I was younger, I had some frequent nightmares, as we all do. They frightened me so much that I would sail out of bed and dash down the hall in tears to wake my parents, regardless of what time it was. As I got older, of course, I was able to contain myself to hyperventilating and pulling the blankets up to my chin, and eventually I would just roll over and fall back to sleep, unless it was one of those pesky dreams that picked up right where it left off as soon as I was unconscious again, but I haven't had a single nightmare in a very long time. I rarely sleep deeply enough to dream these days, however, since I caught a cold and began taking the uber-wonderful NyQuil, I've been sleeping like a dream and having them much more often.

For the past week, every dream I can remember has been a nightmare, but I'm fascinated with how differently they've been playing out. Last night for instance, I had a dream in which my dad (for some unknown reason that will never be necessary in real life, let me assure you right now) was remarried to a woman with a son and two daughters. This is not the nightmare part, though suddenly not having my own mom and brother is a terrifying thought. No, the nightmare part was the psycho killer that managed to get into our house at night and was doing the usual psycho-killer thing--I'll let you refer to your favorite horror flick for the details--and horribly injured the step family, but at some point--I'm not sure which one of us did it--Dad or I or both of us disposed of the maniac. The family ended up fine, and I apparently thought the psycho was possessed and insisted the police not cremate him (wow, I know...). I woke up to my alarm this morning with a decently violent jolt and did begin hyperventilating a bit...until I realized I was safe in my dorm room and how my dad and I had TOTALLY just taken out a psychotic murderer. Then it was one of the coolest dreams ever, and I was quite proud of myself.

I haven't had a nightmare recently that I could truthfully say is a nightmare because in each and every one I, along with whoever else is with me in the dream have overcome every nightmare player. I don't know how this has happened, or why I get to be a hero in my dreams when I hardly ever was before, but I kind of like it, and if I have a nightmare from now on, I hope I continue to kick butt. Also, if something like this, God forbid, should ever happen in real life, I truly hope I'll have the same courage I manage to muster up in my dreams so I can help take care of that, too. After all, I am CPR and First Aide certified now...

Here's to all of us finding the courage do to what is necessary both in dreams and, eventually, in life! Be safe though, would you? :)