“A dream is a microscope through which we look at the hidden occurrences in our soul.” Erich Fromm

After my dad passed away, over 15 years ago…I found myself having a recurring dream. I must have had it at least 10 different times. Same exact thing.

I dream that I wake up and realize that our rabbits have not been fed. Who knows how long? How could I forget? Dad hasn’t been here to take care of them. Has anyone? Was I supposed to? I fear that I have left the rabbits starving. And as I enter the barn, I wake up. Over and over.

Until one day, years ago, I was in Washington D.C. I remember it vividly…trying to decide if I would choose to go to law school in Buffalo, or pursue my other dream of moving to Washington D.C. and working there for a few years… I had the dream again. SAME exact sequence of events, except this time, I get to the barn, and the rabbits are fed. And they have water. And all is well. And I wake up. My recurring dream solved itself. Amazing.

I had another variation on this dream sometime last year…not quite the same. And I did again, last night. Last night? I am fearful that I have left the animals starving (this time it also includes our cats though…)

My brother and I are going to the barn together to see if the animals have been fed, we realize they have not. The cages need new hay. The rabbit crocks are empty. The cats are crying. When we enter the barn it seems like everything is in disarray. Mama Cat, Taffy, had another litter of kittens which we had not known about, they are hiding in the corner. Some of the rabbits are running around the barn, loose. I suddenly feel bad for all the rabbits that are inside the cages, locked in, watching the other rabbits wander about. I want to set them all free.

My brother and I realize we have a lot of work ahead of us…we both decide to go back inside to get dressed and take baths before going back out to the barn. I decide to take a bath first, since it will take me longer to dry my hair afterwards. (It almost feels like we are trying to catch the bus for school? There is a timeline involved.) After I get out of the bath, I go to the barn to pick up the cat dish, and I realize that my brother has somehow finished all the work himself. Just because, no reason given. (Hours must have passed while I was in the bath!!!) Everything is neat. The hay is swept off the floor, the cats are fed, the rabbits are happy. The windows are opened. Everything is fine. And I didn’t need to do a thing…my brother took care of everything. And I was free to leave…

Interesting how the mind works, eh?