July 8, 1989, twenty years ago yesterday, was perhaps the worst day of my life.  Ron died after battling lung cancer for over a year.  I had fully expected that God would heal him,  and when He did not, I was a very angry man.  I was angry at God, and I was an angry and grieving man for quite some time.  I distanced myself from God.  But I had to go through the grieving process, and I am grateful that Liz was wise enough to allow me to grieve, and never once asked me when I was going to “get over it.”  I no longer hold that anger, and I believe that God has forgiven me.  In fact I am grateful that God gave me Ron as a brother for the 38 years that he did.  Even though we were very different, Ron was a blessing to me.  God is good!

Which brings me to the subject of “dreams” (the kind you have when you’re sleeping).  I dream a lot!... almost every night.  And Ron is in my dreams constantly.  Maybe that’s strange, but… being twins, maybe it’s not so strange.  The details of the dreams usually vanish like a vapor, so I don’t remember a lot.  A couple of nights ago I had this dream…  “I came upon this scene in the country.  Ron was standing there to my right watching a car stuck in a ditch, spinning its wheels.  The car did not budge, but suddenly from underneath the car, out popped this giant turtle!  And the turtle was immediately the size of the car itself… enormous!  And the turtle quickly zeroed in on me and began to come my way.  I turned and ran like the wind, leaving Ron behind.  But the giant turtle was in hot pursuit, racing as fast as a horse!  I ran into a crowd of people and the galloping turtle plowed right into the crowd behind me.  And then…”   I woke up.  Perhaps I need a dream therapist to tell me what all that means, but I have always found dreams fascinating.  I’ve been told that the people and characters in our dreams really have nothing to do with the actual people themselves, but it is a part of our own nature telling us something about ourselves, our feelings and emotions, and the things that are going on in our lives at the time.  But I’ve often wondered if dreams were perhaps a spiritual bridge to heaven itself, a connection to those who have passed on before us.  Perhaps we’ll never know for sure until we reach that distant shore.  But I’m wondering what you think.  Do you dream a lot?  And do you have any weird dreams or nightmares, or comforting dreams, or funny dreams, or sexy dreams… that you are brave enough to share? 

Don, I've always been intrigued by dreams, too. Supposedly everyone dreams every night, multiple times, but I don't remember many of mine. Dick can always recall every detail of his, but unless I make a real effort to remember mine as soon as I awaken, I forget. God made our bodies so perfectly, that I can't help but believe that there must be some purpose for our dreams.  I've had dreams that comforted me, ones that have scared me nearly to death, and ones that have just been plain freaky. When it comes to ones like you had, with a giant turtle and your beloved twin, well, you just wish you had Joseph's gift of interpretation. I think you are lucky to have dreamed about Ronald. After my mom died, I prayed to dream of her, because it would, after all, be a way to be with her again. I haven't had many of those that I can recall, so for you to have been able to be with Ronald again, even in a dream, is something I envy.

I think the most realistic dream I ever had was one in which I was flying, just like a bird. It was wonderful! When I was first waking up, and was in that place between sleep and consciousness, I honestly thought that I might be able to just step out of bed onto an invisible cloud and float around the room. I remember being so disappointed when I couldn't. That seems so funny now. I have had many dreams that I was very relieved to wake up from, but that was one I wanted to have again and again.

The funniest thing that ever happened to me during a dream wasn't even my dream, but Dick's.  I was sleeping soundly, when all of a sudden my pillow was jerked right out from under my head. I groggily asked, "what'd you do that for?", and he mumbles something I couldn't understand, and I went back to sleep. The next morning he said he dreamed we had been water skiing, and he was pulling a friend back into the boat by the life jacket. My pillow had been the life jacket.

Dreams have been the source of my greatest adventures as well as my most embarrassing moments, and it's probably best left that way!

Okay Don, I'm not sure where to start - tell you about my dreams or why I have in my hands a book entitled, "10,000 Dreams Interpreted".  I guess I should help you with your dream first - from the afore mentioned book.  "To dream of seeing turtles, signifies that an unusual incident will cause you enjoyment, and improve your business conditions."  ???

I have had dreams periodically, some good and some not so good but would always brush them off as well, just dreams.  Several months ago I went from injecting Enbrel to Humira.  The first night after the first Humira injection, I starting dreaming every single night.  The dreams weren't bad but were so close to reality most times that I would wake up trying to remember if parts were real.  Sherron said I also spent most of the night "running".   I would wake up tired every morning.  I mentioned this to my doctor (Rheumatologist) and he said he had never heard of any such asssociation with Humira so he changed another med that he thought could be causing the dreams.  No change and the dreams have continued every night.  I finally became so exhausted a couple of weeks ago that I asked the doctor for something to help me sleep.  I am not a fan of assisted sleep but I was miserable.  The pills haven't stopped the dreams but at least I don't wake up tired, just drugged feeling.  Next week I willl begin Remicade infusion treatments to replace the Humira and hopefully the dreams will go away.  I ended up with the book on dreams after mentioning the dreams to a co-worker.  She brought me this book so I could attempt to "interpret" my dreams.  So far, nothing.

My constant dreams always involve people I know or have met and are in a setting closely resembling a place I have been or seen.  Diane made an appearance one night.  She was an analyst and I recall looking over an office partition and asking her to run a report of communications in a particular area for a particular time period.  Goes back to my intelligence analysis  days I guess.  There was a question of who may have observed a military operation at sea using oblique imagery.  When I went to her desk to pick up her report, she wasn't there but another lady who works here in Athens-Clarke County had the information I needed.  Then a fellow that works here in another department came over to discuss the event and what we knew.  Several others of you have made appearances as well - always in a good light.  I have gotten to where I examine each dream for things that are out of place -like your oversized turtle - to eliminate any reality.  One night I was dreaming that I was at a very large hotel.  The hotel sat on a plateau overlooking the prairie, much like what I saw in Colorado.  As I went from one section to another, I had to cross a deep gulley.      Not something you would expect to experience in a real hotel, thus everything was a dream.  This has not been a pleasant experience but I believe it is getting better and contrary to what the DR says, I think the dreams are drug induced. 

Well, that's my latest dreams.  (Sorry you asked?) 

Thanks for sharing your dreams and your thoughts on the subject! 

As you say Diane, and I believe too, that it is easier to remember dreams and their details if you make an effort to reinforce it in some way… by trying very hard to remember it, by writing it down, or by telling it to someone right away.  That is what I did with my “giant galloping turtle” dream.  I immediately told it to Liz before I got up, and she thought it was hilarious and was sure that it had something to do with whatever I ate the night before.  

Gary… I’m glad to hear that the “turtle” in a dream is a good omen for  a joyous event that will bring business success.  I have something in the works right now that I have high expectations for.  We shall see.

It's time to go to bed. Sweet dreams everyone!

Here's a good one...

Liz had a dream where she went to a hair salon.  Soon, a police officer arrived and arrested her for having her hair done.  Now... I know that it is a crime what some women (not Liz) do with their hair, but... what does your dream book say about that one, Gary? 

Dianne, it was so strange to read about your dream of flying.

I have had that same dream several times and it is the greatest

feeling of freedom I have ever experienced. It seems I just

close my eyes and I'm suddenly floating. I travel above the

trees around my home. It's as you said. I seem to be moving

without any effort to where ever I want to go. And then it

seem something or someone calls me back and I feel so badly.

I feel the need to keep flying.

I've dreamed this same dream several times, I told Beth about

it once, but I felt as if I was cracking up. But really that dream

has left me with a longing for the experience over and over again. 

I had a dream last night.  I got stopped for speeding… riding a bicycle!... in Pennsylvania!  I was on a busy road and was pulled over by a woman cop who gave me a ticket for $76.  I explained to her that I was from Georgia and pled for mercy, but she had no sympathy.  Then I woke up.  ($76 richer)…

Dare I even ask for interpretations?

Don, here's how I interpret your dream. You were in Pennsylvania because it was the birthplace of our nation's freedom, in the year 1776, hence your fine of 76 dollars. You were speeding because you feel the wheels of liberty are slowing down, and you felt an urgency to help get them up to "speed" again. I don't know why it was a woman cop who stopped you. Maybe she represented the Liberty "belle", but I don't know why she would fine you.

There you go. This first interpretation is on the house. I'll bill for the next one.

Diane, you could definitely hang out your shingle!

When I think of dreams, I remember hearing my mother telling about 2 of my daddy's dreams.

One night he tied the blinds all up because he dreamed he was tying a boat to the dock.

Another night she woke up to him holding his legs straight up in the air and talking, telling her to hurry and get out of there.  In a few seconds he just let his legs fall onto the bed and said something like 'fine then, just let the damn thing fall on you'.  (he was dreaming he was holding up a bridge and was aggrivated that she wasn't hurrying to get out of the way...)

 Connie, how funny! Those dreams of your Daddy's are priceless! Of course, they reminded my of two times that my own daddy had dreams that I remember. Well, this first one wasn't a dream, but none the less entertaining. One night we were all sound asleep and I wake up to hear my daddy very clearly and solemnly singing "Nearer My God to Thee", just as if he had been doing a solo in church. In the dark, in the middle of the night, it was just plain spooky. Then, another time, Mama said he woke her up talking in his sleep about "working on his diabolical plan". Well, he declared that he'd never even heard the word "diabolical", so Mama looked it up to show him it meant "work of the devil". He laughed about that for years. Anyway, they are not as funny as your daddy's dreams, but they bring a smile to my face. I am very glad the bridge did not fall on your mama!

Thanks, Diane for the wonderful interpretation of my dream.  I’m buying it!  Oh wait, you did say it was on the house. But you can send me a bill for my next dream interpretation and I will put a check in the mail for you… in your dreams!

Connie… I’m still laughing about your Dad’s dreams.  That was a hoot!  Especially the one with him holding his legs up in the air “holding up the bridge”.  Hilarious!!!  I think I would have loved knowing your Mom and Dad.  I don’t know that I have ever been “physically active” or talked during my dreams.  I hope not.  If I have, Liz has never said anything about it.

I liked your comments too Diane about your Dad and his “dreams”.  I think I would have been spooked too if I woke up in the middle of the night to someone singing “Nearer My God To Thee.”  Very funny!

By the way, I had another dream last night.  Let me preface this by saying that Liz and I went to IHOP last night and I had a Colorado Omelette stuffed with sausage, bacon, ham and beef, with peppers and onions, smothered with cheese and salsa.  Well… in the middle of the night I had this sexy dream that I will not detail (even for a free interpretation), and I woke up with heartburn!  I don’t know if the omelette brought on the sexy dream, but I know it caused the heartburn.

Here’s wishing everyone sweet dreams… or funny dreams… or sexy dreams… or whatever you like!

 Don, I'm not going there! I just think the headline should read, "Spicy food leads to spicy dream!" Dick's probably going to start craving a Colorado Omelette though, thanks to you. 

Sweet dreams, all.