...When All is Said and Dunn

Bill Cosby once said “I enjoy sleep like a good steak” and while this sentiment may not appeal to the vegetarians and vegans out there, it certainly does to this devout meat eater. Sleeping is definitely one of my favorite pastimes that I don’t get to indulge in near as much as I would like to. As my youngest child gets older my sleep time has gradually extended, except when he feels the need for company early in the morning.

Why do I enjoy sleeping so much? Dreaming. I love to dream and while the occasional daydream can be fun, it never reaches the satisfaction level of a good dose of deep R.E.M. sleep. You can be anything and do anything you want while in the land of your own mind. The landscape is yours to fill and the players, some of the time, are yours to manipulate and create, you are the puppet master and unlike life, you are in control. They are all part of your subconscious, so like it or not, this land is your land.

While most people would like to think they are in control of their lives, they’re not. There are certain aspects of life that no one, not even the most powerful or wealthy can control. You stand a much better chance in your dreams. And if you get hold of a good one, the results can far surpass any real experience. Especially if you are fortunate enough to retain it once you have awakened.

I have had dreams that were so incredibly real that once I was awake the experience seemed real. Many of these dreams I remember as vividly as any real life memory and actually prefer them, because I was able to do things in them that would be physically impossible otherwise.

When else would I have the opportunity to walk through downtown Temple City and not even see a bridal shop? Or would I be able to drive through the San Gabriel Valley without wanting to take the life of some moronic driver. Without the benefit of a time machine, dreams will just have to do. They may be small dreams but good ones.

What about all the super human feats that are usually relegated to cartoons and special effects laden movies. Jumping tall buildings, outrunning large rolling stone balls, or kicking Arnold Schwarzenegger’s butt. Anything you want is there for a brief period of time without any of the physical consequences.

There is of course the downside. The fact that sometimes your dreams will in fact go awry and become nightmares. Now, I don’t know about you, but I have far fewer nightmares than I do dreams. Which again is a better percentage than an average day. My nightmares lately seem to be happening more and more when I’m awake. So the few that I do have when I’m asleep are a cakewalk. When I wake up and realize it was just a nightmare, it’s a relief that it was not really happening and is easily forgotten.

I find that some of the most intense dreams I have are during afternoon naps. I don’t know why that is. It just seems that my mind is working overtime during the day and when I allow it the luxury of shutting down for an hour, it generally rewards me with some mind candy for the favor.

I really wish I was going to be celebrating Thanksgiving a little closer to home so I could benefit from that tryptophan buzz that turkey gives you. That stuff will knock you out in a hurry, and Thanksgiving and Christmas day naps are always the best.

Well, the last couple of days have been hell and all of this writing has really worn me out. So if you’ll excuse me I think I’ll catch 30 winks.

See you in my dreams.