Conference hydra::dejavu

1554.0. "confusing symbols in a dream" by DSSDEV::GRIFFIN (Throw the gnome at it) Thu Sep 26 1991 16:42

    As others have asked for assistance in dream interpretation, I decided
    to try to get help interpreting this one.  Some of the things in it I
    can understand, but not all.
    
    I am in my "home" (in the dream, an apartment in a high rise, on one of
    the higher floors) on an island, approximately one block away from the
    sanddunes along the waterfront.  A hurricane is passing by the island,
    and many residents of the building are excited by the prospect (from
    nervous to festive).  I watched the ocean from our window (which looked
    south), and saw the waves mostly slosh over the dunes (which are
    approximately 2 stories in height), but in one section, the dunes are
    smaller (because of the hotel resort complex on the city block beside
    it), and the waves coming to shore at this point are washing over 2
    blocks of buildings (all a part of the resort complex).
    
    I am concerned for the guests, but not for the owners of the complex -
    they were informed enough to know that allowing the degradation of the
    dunes would leave them vulnerable.
    
    In the dream, I was curious enough to go to my car, and start to drive
    towards the resort, so that I could look at the level of damage (this
    is after the hurricane was past).  Many others had the same idea.
    
    I got to an intersection (that resembles one near my office - the
    access ramps to Rte 3 on Spit Brook Rd.) and turned right, intending to
    take the very next left (which would set me back in the direction of
    the resort).  I could hear sirens, and saw a police car head in the
    same direction.  Before I got to the left turn, however, a man came
    stumbling down the street, obviously a victim of the catastrophe, but
    no fatal wounds.  I responded to him, however, as if he were an undead
    coming to get me.  I turned my car around (did a u turn in the middle
    of the block), and started back the way I came.  However, suddenly, I
    was running, rather than driving, and he was following me.
    
    I ran to the apartment complex (which was no longer a high rise, but,
    complex of 1 and 2 story units), and was let into a friends apartment
    (since it was quicker to get to than my apartment - note that the
    friends did not look like anyone I previously or currently know).  They 
    let me in and re-barricaded their door, with the dream providing 
    evidence that there were more of these type people around besides the 
    one I ran from.
    
    I stayed with them a while, then decided to attempt to get to my own
    apartment, feeling that I wanted to return to my son (he wasn't alone
    in the apartment, there were some friends there, there was no concern
    for his wellbeing, just a mothers desire to be with her child).  We 
    removed the barricade, and I stepped out, moved quickly, and continually 
    watched for the hurricane "victims".  While moving, it quickly changed from
    daylight to late dusk, and I started to see bodies on the ground, but I
    also saw people "guarding" these bodies and their apartments.  In the
    dream, I felt that this seemed more like a NERO event (a live role play
    organization that I attend), and that everyone was acting like they
    should.  Only, I was concerned because I did not have a white head band
    to let these people know that I was not in game, but just passing
    through.  Also, seeing so many people outside playing the game, I felt
    relief and believed that I no longer had to be concerned about
    hurricane "victims".
    
    At this point, I woke up.  The memories of the hurrican victim was too
    disturbing to easily go back to sleep, so I told my husband about the
    dream (he was still awake).  
    
    One thought that I had through out the dream was that I could not "go 
    to" Sean (my husband) for protection because he was not at home, and I 
    could not contact him and have him show up quickly.  This is a recurring 
    "theme" in various dreams I have, and I know why it is there - not 
    because I don't look at the cause for the feelings, but because, despite 
    various discussions he and I have, there is no resolution found yet.  The 
    switch to a NERO event may have to do with the fact that NERO is prominent 
    in our lives - Sean is an Executive in the organization, I volunteer time 
    to the administration of NERO, there is at least 1 NERO event a month, 
    sometimes 2, and many of our friends have joined NERO, so it is discussed 
    frequently.  When I started using the stealth and wariness in the dream, 
    it most likely triggered memories of NERO events, which is where I usually 
    am wary and stealthy, since the events are hazardous to a characters 
    health ;-).  I felt safer surrounded by the "NERO players" because I knew 
    that all would be on the watch and help defeat any threats.
    
    But the apartment as home (both forms) is confusing, since we own our
    own house, as is the resort complex as an object for scorn and derision.
    And the hurricane victim that elicited such revulsion that I could not
    act logically, but merely run in terror.
    
    
    To provide some background information:  the island did resemble Long
    Beach Island, NJ, where my parents own a house not quite a block away
    from the beach (with dunes that resemble the ones in the dream). 
    Atlantic City is just south of Long Beach Island.  Currently, my sister
    is staying in my parents house while trying to work out a marital
    problem - I feel this is some how related to part of the dream.
    
    In reality, I would never have jumped in my car to go gawk at a
    catastrophe so soon after it occurred, however, I would eventually want
    to go see, like when the crisis control teams were gone.  And I have
    never fled from an accident victim, nor felt revulsion at the sight of
    one.  More normally, I would be sympathetic, and if no one else was
    around to help, would do what I could.
    
    Losing the car? possibly associated with the fact that the end of the
    month is almost here and I need to fix the exhaust pipe, re-register
    it, and get it inspected.  But I don't think I'm worried about being
    able to get it done.
    
    Money is a bit tight for us right now, but it is not something we can't
    handle, just annoying.
    
    My real life son in 4 months old.  We do have a roommate that watches
    him if both Sean and I go out, but usually Sean watches him, as he is
    unemployed, and I work.  While rearranging parts of the house, Stephen
    (our son) sleeps in our room.  He is healthy and active and happy.
    
    Any suggestions?
    
    Thanks,
    Beth

    I'm curious...what is NERO?
    
    lisa

    NERO is a live fantasy role play gaming society.  We get together once
    or twice a month and pretend to be fighters, rogues, merchants, spell
    casters, and such, wearing midieval clothes, wielding "safe" weapons
    (padded sticks ;-), throwing bean bags for spells, and in general
    creating our own epic fantasy, repleat with hero(ines), villians and
    their evil minions, and comic relief.  A zombie is a common minion, but
    they are easily killed/avoided/neutralized.  See the notefile
    SASE::NERO for more information.
    
    Beth

    
        if you can't kill it....
        the next night go hunting....
        and don't give up until it's dead.
    
    Interesting advice.  I used to have a recurring dream in which I was
    within maze with a thing in there with me.  My goal was to exit, its to
    prevent the exit.  Each time it seemed to be on the verge of catching
    me, I would change tactics and try again.  I haven't had the dream in a
    while, but it always ended with me returning to a safe point to replan
    and retry.
    
    Thanks
    
    Beth

Well, with the passage of time, maybe this was a precognitive dream.

Sometime after entering .0, the eastern US seaboard was hit with a hurricane/
nor'easter combination.  Many coastal communities from New Jersey on north had
a lot of damage and flooding.

Well, my sister, staying at Long Beach Island, New Jersey, which is just north
of Atlantic City, was stranded on the southern end of the Island (our family's
home was undamaged, but roads north were under several feet of water).  My
personal belief as to why our end of the island was above water is that the
community there has been much more concerned with maintaining/building the
dunes up than other parts of the island...this seems to correspond with my
contempt for the resort that "got what they deserved".  The height of my "home" 
could correspond with 1. being much further north on the coast (up), and 2. I
was completely oblivious to the existence and affects of the storm until about
a day or 2 later (after the emergency was over, and before the reconstruction
was starting).

I called her to see how she was doing (drove towards the wreckage?), and she
brought up a topic that I am uncomfortable with.  Is this topic my "zombie"?
I am not certain, although, I can see how it might be.  I did not "flee" from
this topic in a panic, but in the past I might have.  Her discussion of it did
make me take a look at parts of my life (received shelter with friends?), which 
may prevent me from falling into the same problem.


So, .3 was somewhat right in that a calamity was just about to fall upon or be
revealed to someone I knew (my sister), but which I was/am safe from (for now).

Thanks,
Beth