It was in the late 60’s, the Beatles White Album had just come out and I was falling asleep just going into that twilight sleep. The album was on and a song was playing and they were describing what characters were doing in the song and I dreamt it all in a cartoon. Whatever the song said my cartoon dream characters did it. There are other dreams of course, but they would be hard to explain. I didn’t know I was pregnant with my first son and I had a dream where I entered this room and there was a man sitting in a corner. I couldn’t see his face but there was a window with a bright block of light that was streaming through across his legs and feet. I remember thinking what big feet he had. He started talking to me, making a case for himself, I can’t remember what he said, but I responded with “I guess that sounds okay.” Then he stood up and just sort of leaned in my direction and dissolved - I was kind of waking up so I don’t remember what happened next. A couple of days later I found out I was pregnant and wondered about my dream.

The space is ethereal and absent of all color. To describe it as substance, it would be cloud-like. The light is pure, intense, and seemingly without source. It is infinite. I am on the outside looking in; while at the same time an active participant. Standing in the center is a group of people. At first I see them as shadows and unidentifiable. Although ominous, I am not frightened and approach the group. As I get nearer I hear the quiet hum of pleasant conversation and gentle laughter. It is a happy time. I equate it to a cocktail party where everyone is standing among friends. I am welcomed into the group and it is a warm and comfortable feeling. I know all these people, but they remain faceless. I join in conversation moving from one to another. I don’t what it is that we are talking about. At some point I realize that I recognize the man with whom I am speaking. He is someone I have known for 30 years. As friends, we have shared many life experiences both good and bad. After recognizing him, I find myself looking around and matching two other names to the otherwise faceless shadows. They are also men from my youth. We are all having a good time. As quickly as it began, the dream ends. I return to my bed and awaken. The name and the face of my friend stick out in my mind and I am terrified. My friend died nearly 20 years ago in an auto collision. The other two faceless names were also dead. They had died of drug overdoses many years ago. I had gone to be with my dead friends. This dream came to me during the two months of testing prior to my first cancer surgery in 1989. Each doctor’s visit brought with it, not only the results, but my confrontation with the fear of death. I was visibly, physically ill. Awake I watched my life slipping away; while asleep, I kept joining my dead friends and awaking in terror. Just before my surgery I told my oncologist of my recurring visits with the dead. He was not surprised. I remember asking him if I was going to die and he told me he didn’t know. I entered the hospital and the dreams stopped. Every time since, while revisiting cancer, the dream with my dead friends returned but my terror lessened and ended shortly after surgery. The final visit to my dream took place during the diagnosis of a chronic and serious illness. Once the disease was given a name, the dreams stopped. The last recollection I have is awakening with resolve and not fear. After 19 years and 7 cancers later…I’m still here and the dream lives on only on paper. I confronted my worst fear and am living to tell about it. Is life sweet or what?

A few years ago, my cat died. I adopted him as a baby kitten. He would have had a sad and short fate as a feral cat if I hadn’t. He had this huge fluffy tail that was bigger than his body; he looked like a squirrel. He co-existed with me for over 20 years, so I never knew exactly how old he was, but he had a good run, literally. When he was younger, before he got sick, he used to run around my mattress when I got into bed, and then he settled down into the crook of my elbow and fell asleep, while I read. He was the sweetest furry beast I ever met. About a year after he died, the little dude started running around my bed again. It was freaky, but I was not scared at all. I am sure it was what they call lucid dreaming. I could actually hear him purring in my ear. This went on intermittently for many months. One night I needed to sleep for an appointment the next day, and as I dozed off he started the run again. I was irritable and I heard myself saying out loud, “Would you just stop it?” Just like that it ended. I felt horrible. He hasn’t come back since. I know that sounds creepy, but I think it was healthy. I really missed him. Still do. People have suggested I get a new cat, but I can’t. I already had the best cat in the world, so what’s the point?

I truly had a “flying dream”. About 25 years ago and I must have just been waking up because I was aware that if I held my breath I would ascend higher and that I could manage direction by just a movement of my shoulder. It was very odd but also very beautiful and peaceful. I’ve never had the dream again…..much to my disappointment.

I have not read the posts yet… but here it is… After my mom died in a car accident, I had this dream that was so weird. It was at least three to six months later. I was going back to college (I was 18 and I attended HER college…Stephens) and she appeared in a dream. It was one of those when you wake up and know. I knew because we had once said “pinch me and tell me I’m not dreaming”. It was one of those things you say in jest. But then it appeared in a dream. She pinched me and told me that she would always be here. I told her (like an 18 yr. old) “you are not alive”! She assured me she was and pinched my butt. I woke up with my butt hurting….for real. I will never forget it.