Dreams of change (and Mark Henry)

Last night I dreamed that Mark Henry and I were pregnant. And when I say that "we" were pregnant, I don't mean as a couple. I mean we were *each* carrying babies inside us.

I'll wait for a second, while you have the same "WTF??" moment I did.

Aaaaand we're back. To top it all off, I was having twins. I'm sure that part came from the lovely Sandy Williams, who actually is pregnant with twins.

If memory serves, dreaming that you're pregnant is supposed to be symbolic of upcoming change or transformation in your life. In my dream, Mark and I were both very excited and happy about our pregnancies, despite the fact that I don't want kids in real life*, so I'm going to assume the dream was a portent of positive change in our lives. Twins for me...an agent and editor, perhaps? (pleasepleaseplease) Or maybe something else. Who knows. I'll try not to get my hopes up. Maybe it was just the Chinese food I had last night. ;)

*Direct quote from me to my doctor this week: "I live in terror of finding out I'm pregnant."

Story Dreams

Do you ever have dreams that you just know are stories waiting to be told? I had one last night.

I was at some sort of outdoor ceremony and at the end of it, a huge flock of bats was released. So many that the fading light of the sunset was temporarily blocked out as they swarmed up into the sky before descending into the crowd. Most people were running and screaming but I welcomed them: eyes closed, head back, arms thrown wide. They surrounded me like a cloak, their tiny bodies and smooth, leathery wings like a caress. Not sexual, but intimate, familiar.

The sensation--and the screaming--was over in less than a minute and I opened my eyes to see that almost all of the bats had flown off into the fast arriving night. Not my bats, though. While other women cried and checked their children for wounds, I stared in wonder at my left arm. Left bare in my sleeveless shirt, it was now covered, shoulder to wrist, in bats. They'd all nestled there like a sleeve shaped pile of puppies, snuggled into one another and resting contentedly. I could tell that the were anchoring themselves to my skin somehow, but it wasn't painful to me. I skimmed my hand down their backs, delighted as they shivered under my touch and resettled themselves along my arm.

Those that weren't running for the exits were heading toward the end of the field where the next stage of the ceremony was to be held. As I walked through the crowd, wearing my sleeve of favor, people stopped and stared, parting to let me pass. In my dream, I knew what this sleeve of bats meant (as is the way of dreams). I had been Chosen. But the bats and I knew the secret -- that they chose me because I welcomed them. Because I was the only person in the crowd of hundreds not to turn away in fear but to embrace the darkness that they stood for. A darkness based more on myth than fact. And so they gave me their gift, because I was worthy of receiving it.

The dream and, most of all, the wonderful sensation of the bats on my arm, has stayed with me all day. I already mourn the hour when it fades enough that I can no longer feel their warm, tiny bodies and smooth wings against my skin.

I'm quite sure there's a book in there somewhere. Now, if only I could HURRY THE HELL UP and finish these revisions, maybe I could write it. :)