For the past month, since school ended, I’ve had a plethora of dreams.
The Race: I was at a track meet, and the 200 was coming up. Runners, who were all older adults, were already on the track with their blocks set, getting ready for the starter to call the commands. I was scheduled to run the 200, but I wasn’t ready; my spikes weren’t on, my warm ups were still on, and I was on the infield in a panic. Fortunately, there was a delay and I could catch up and run it.
Griswold Center: I was at MU Griswold Center, where I saw Carl Alexander (All-American athlete I coached and taught) and Sheldon Davis (younger athlete when I was a senior) in the lobby. I went to the gym area where Jenny and Tiffany (twins I coached and taught) were playing soccer. There were physical levels in the gym, just like tiers stacked vertically, that corresponded to the level of soccer you were proficient in. On the lowest tier was the pool. DL was there as well as Jennifer Heller, who was telling me that her grandfather had died.
Zombie: I was in an underground cavern running from zombies. I was with one other person in a room. A zombie broke through the door and stabbed me under the armpit. I knew I was done; I began vomiting and trying to warn my partner to get out before I myself became a zombie and went after her/him.
Carl Poelker: My old MU football coach, Carl Poelker, was explaining a wreath to me and my friend Rob Townsend. He was using a smooth, genuine voice that was full of fascination as he explained to us that the wreath, which consisted of dozens of small finger-sized pieces, was strung together by “one single strand of string.” He wanted us to understand the precision and craftsmanship needed to stitch the wreath together. I got on my mountain bike and tried to make it up a steep dirt hill.
Computer discipline: MU again. This time LK took my computer from in front of me, turned it off, and put it away. I was surprised because I was helping Tamara T. (student at RHS) and needed my computer.
Evening Softball Game: I was with my Dad walking to the stadium to see an evening softball game. As we walked by the tailgating outside the stadium, I saw some pre-teen kids with my USB drive case. I went in their tent and asked for it back. One kid said he needed to copy the files on it first before he gave it back to me. The kid’s dad was there and apologized to me for his son. As we shook hands, he bent his middle finger and scratched my palm with his finger. I found Dad up in the stands, but I had to walk on razer-sharp mountain-like spires to reach the row where he sat. I made it fine because my balance was very good. When I sat next to him he said, “Grammy D would never have been able to make it here.” We started to watch the game, which was the championship.
Mommy’s Dream: This one is NOT MINE. My wife dreamt that I left the table when we were having dinner out one evening, and I was late to return. When my wife went to look for me, she found me stalking another woman!
A Stab at What they Mean: Normally, I go after one dream at a time, but these seem to have a theme to look into. Most of them have sports, most of them have students or athletes I’ve known, and most of them have one authority figure. There’s skills and abilities, defeat and disappointment, reflection and death. Bottom line: I’m working through this point in my life where I am in fields of duality: student and teacher, father and son, coach and athlete, mentor and learner.