The other night I had a horrible nightmare. I'd advise you to skip this one if you're squeamish, but then again you probably can't resist your curiosity, so what the hell, just read on.
The setting is some kind of multi-purpose room with wood paneling, cheap furniture, and harsh fluorescent lighting. I'm among a group of ten or fifteen people that I seem to know. One of them, a coworker I'll call Kevin, works in the next building over. Another is a gentleman whom I frequently see eating at the food co-op during lunch. He has dark skin, and is probably in his forties. I don't know his name.
In the dream, co-op man and Kevin get into a fight. Co-op man hits Kevin in the face. Then Kevin hits co-op man in the face, so hard that he is momentarily stunned. I figure that's the end of it -- they're even. But then co-op man comes to his senses and hits Kevin in the jaw, who hits him back. This goes on, again and again. I desperately want this to end, and I keep asking Kevin, my coworker, to just stop and let it be, but he won't.
Eventually, co-op man has been beaten so senseless that he is on his knees, nearly unconscious. It is at this point that Kevin places a power drill against the back of co-op man's head and starts boring a hole into him.
I can't believe what I'm seeing. I like Kevin, and he's a nice guy. This isn't who he is. I beg him to stop, I try to make him see what he's doing. I am crying. But he won't stop.
That's all I remember. While I was driving to work the next morning I recalled the dream, and almost moved on to something else when I caught myself and thought, "Wait. That's horrific. You need to think about this."
It didn't take me long to figure it out, which is rare. My dreams usually defy simple analysis. Can you guess what it meant?
Posted by cradle at September 21, 2003 12:59 AMDavid, I don't think your dream is as violent as you think...I think you are secretly obsessed with trepanation (the art of recreationally drilling a hole in your head). Kevin was merely helping co-op man reach nirvana. See- Your dream was quite peaceful afterall.
Posted by: Carla at September 21, 2003 11:10 PM:O
Posted by: Andrew at September 22, 2003 09:02 AMWas it the co-op guy with the facial hair who wears the bandana? The one we saw at the Dean rally? Just curious.
Posted by: Maureen at September 22, 2003 01:41 PMNope. Not "Steve".
Posted by: David at September 22, 2003 02:29 PMIt means that you are a pussy because you didn't help Kevin in the fight.
Posted by: Kan at September 22, 2003 08:58 PMNo, Kan. No.
The dream is obviously an allegory for the
the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Kevin is
an Israeli, and the other guy is a Palestinian.
Kevin works in another building (country), but
is a co-worker (co-religionist).
I thought you people knew me.
David, you are an enigma wrapped in mystery, much like bacon wrapped shrimp.
Posted by: Maureen at September 23, 2003 11:19 PMBacon wrapped banana is actually pretty tastey.
Posted by: Brooke at September 24, 2003 08:24 PMSo I was right. You are a pussy because you won't support Israel on it's war against their terrorists of Palestine.
Posted by: Kan at September 24, 2003 08:48 PMHey, not too far off; I was going to guess it was the U.S. beating up on all these Iraqis and Al Qaeda people.
The question is, did you learn anything from it? About the nature of the conflict, or about yourself?
Bob
Posted by: Bob S at October 3, 2003 01:24 AM