I have a recurring nightmare. Actually, it's a recurring nightmare theme. The theme is that I'm traveling somewhere and I'm lost, or fogotten where I'm going, or am trying to get there but can't. The mode of travel will change. I've had a version of this dream where I was walking through the underground tunnels of the London Tube. Another version was driving through a city and trying to get to a particular building. Another was traveling on a space ship and trying to find my way through the spaceport to my departure gate. Frequently, the theme has to do with air travel. I can't find my gate, can't find the airport, have forgotten something and need to run home and then can't find where I'm supposed to go.
On paper (or computer screen) I'm sure this dream sounds innocuous - but believe me, I've spent many a restless night fighting my way through this dream. I often wake up exhausted and feeling like another night's rest would do me good.
I had this dream a couple of nights ago. I dreamt that I'd forgotten I needed to go to the airport and then when I remembered I realized I needed to go home to get my luggage and was worried that I wouldn't be able to get my luggage before my flight left. I guess my upcoming trip triggered this - but it's not always travel that triggers the dream.
Yesterday, I had a flight to Jeddah. Russell and Lyra dropped me off at the airport after work - around 7pm. After check-in, I went through passport control and security to make my way to the gate. As I was nearing the departure area I realized with a jolt - OH NO, I forgot my computer at home! You've all had that mind-race when you need to quickly determine what to do. I called Russell, they had just arrived back home and he quickly got back into the car to drive back to the airport (bless him). Luckily we live only 15-20 minutes away.
In the meantime, I tried to figure out how I could go "backwards" through security and passport. At first, I tried to go through the arrivals area - as if I had just landed. But the immigration wouldn't let me through. Everyone kept asking me, "Where are you coming from?" as I tried to explain - "I live here - I'm trying to leave, but I forgot something in the car. I need to go and get it." Finally, a kind soul from Emirates Airlines (not even my airline - I was flying Saudi Airlines) escorted me back to the departure area. The police took my passport and a security woman escorted me out to the passenger drop off area where Russell had just arrived. I got the computer and then made my way back through security and to the gate - arrived with plenty of time! Whew.
On the plane, I was seated in the upstairs area of the 747 - which was packed. Today, I told everyone in the office I must have been seated in the "children's section". There were two Saudi families traveling back from their summer hols. Each family had 4-5 kids. So, I was surrounded by nearly 10 kids and one nanny. Where were the parents? In first class of course. Actually, they were pretty well behaved - just full of energy. Lots of shouting back and forth to one another, getting up to go to each other's seat, calling the cabin crew, trading one beverage for another, showing each other how to play video games, etc.
Interestingly, none of the kids spoke Arabic - they all spoke English. They understood Arabic when the flight crew spoke to them, but always responded in English. I was relating this observation to someone in the office and he agreed that this often happens when the kids are raised by nannies who don't speak Arabic. Many of the wealthy families have kids who rarely use Arabic. Even the parents will switch to English when speaking with their kids.
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How weird. Tonight while I was on my way down to the fitness room I thought how nobody would know where to look for me if there was a disaster in the building. That morphed into the thought that I would have to ask the firemen to rescue the cats from my apartment - but only if no ones life would be put in danger. Then wouldn't you know it but the alarms went off when I was just starting my cool down. I found myself outside looking up at my window hoping it was a false alarm.
When they let us back in it smelled like someone had let a pot boil dry on the stove or something and they were blowing the smoke out the window in the hallway right outside my apartment. Luckily, nothing major and the cats and I are fine.
Must have been our week for little premonitions.
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