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| photo by Kesara Rathnayake |
I don’t usually remember my dreams, but a recent dream was
so absurd that I woke up and recorded it in my journal:
I saw a man and his wife in my neighborhood out walking with their baby in a
stroller. A baby elephant walked alongside them. Very odd. I asked him why
there was an elephant with him, and we had a discussion about why I thought it
was a bad idea. Can’t remember the exact conversation, but I thought it might
make a good writing prompt. Me: I see you are walking with an elephant.
Man: Yes.
Where did it come from?
I really don’t know. It showed up on my doorstep.
I see. Well, we have something in common. I am having a dream of this exact elephant. Are you going to keep him?
It is not a question of keeping him. I will take care of him as long as he continues to follow us. He seems to have chosen us.
Wouldn’t it be wise if you called an authority like a zookeeper? Maybe you could see if a zoo nearby is missing an elephant. I mean are you willing to bear the expense of caring for such a large animal?
It is my duty to bear the expense.
If it was me, I’d call the zoo. Do you know anything about the needs of an elephant? You should call an authority.
Elephants are wise. He has chosen me for a reason. You are very worried about a problem that does not concern you. You must leave this dream at once.
Hey, buddy, this dream chose me just as the elephant chose you. As a dream symbol this elephant may represent something important. I’m staying in this dream until it makes sense to me. Step aside and let me talk to the elephant. I’ll see if he knows why we are here.
The man stands back, and the baby elephant speaks! (That’s right. The elephant talks now. Writing prompts are even sillier than dreams.)
Me: Excuse me, Elephant Baby, Do you represent an obstacle in my life that I need to address?
Elephant: Yes. Anything is possible.
Okay. Why do you say that?
Anything is possible.
Again. Please explain.
You are having a dream in which anything is possible. And you are having a hard time believing that anything is possible. You tell me why I’m here.
You are not real. I will wake up. You’ll be gone.
Anything is possible.
You mean if I allow myself to dream, anything is possible?
Bingo!
For comment, do you ever dream about elephants?
