Returning to a Bad Dream

Clarification on Title: (This post’s title isn’t a euphemism or metaphor for something bad that happened to me, so don’t worry it’s not a sad post. It’s actually about what I do after I have an actual nightmare.)

While I was on break, I went and saw the movie I Am Legend with my mom. I really liked the movie and didn’t think it was all that scary. A little jumpy and suspenseful, but not frightening. Apparently, my subconscious thought differently.

If you don’t know the gist of the movie – here it is in a nutshell. Everyone in the world was given a vaccine that was supposed to cure cancer. The vaccine did cure cancer, but had the unfortunate side effect of making everyone go insane and turn into rabid zombies. Fortunately for humanity, Will Smith’s character was immune to the disease. Unfortunately for him, he now spends everyday alone searching for food and other immune survivors. Every night, he locks himself down in his hiding place to stay safe from the deranged, flesh-eating infected population who only come out after dark.

No reason that should cause nightmares, right?

So, in my dream I’m on the south side shopping during my lunch break at work. I run into some friends while I’m at Target and ending up staying at the store way longer than I thought. By the time I get out to the parking lot, everyone is gone. Oh, and this parking lot is not in your typical suburban/urban setting. In fact, it looks nothing like a parking lot. There are no other parking spots and no other cars. It’s just me parked by some creepy trees next to a dark forest. But, why should that bother me? I’ve just been having a jolly ol’ time in Target. No need to check my car for any hiding zombies.

Big mistake. Once I’m safely trapped in my locked car, one of those nasty, pasty-faced psychos pops up from the backseat. Not good. The next thing I remember is that Casey is now in the car with me and I’m in the passenger seat. Somehow, we’ve gotten rid of our undead friend. But wait! What’s that sliding underneath my seat? Ahhhhh!!! The zombie is coming up into my chair (how did he even fit under the seat?!) He’s gonna get me! There’s no escape!!!!!!

Then I wake up in my dark room next to my sleeping husband. I try to get his attention by telling him I had a nightmare. His response, “Mmmhmm, grunt, grunt.” Or something along those lines. Looks like I’m going to have to deal with zombies on my own.

I certainly can’t just go back asleep and pretend nothing happened. That would mean that the zombie won, and I died. Unacceptable. So, I return to my dream and my lonely car, only this time it’s at an abandoned parking lot at my work. Still creepy, but not as bad. And this time, I’m not just hopping back in the car willie nillie. I take a good look around the car and notice something lumpy in the backseat. It’s go time.

I open the back door and underneath a blanket, a flesh-eater is hiding! But this time I’ve got the upper hand – I’ve got a TASER! I proceed to electroshock the deviant critter until he falls out of my backseat and onto the ground. Once I’m satisfied that he’s been rendered innocuous, it’s safe for me to get into my car . . . and begin a new dream.

When I told Casey about my dream and that I pretty much always return to my bad dreams to correct them, he was surprised. He said when he has a bad dream he just tries to avoid thinking about it again. But, I’ve found if I go back and right the situation it makes it much easier to feel calm again. You don’t even want to know what happened to the terrorists who kidnapped me when they found out I was a double agent!

What about you, do you ever go back to a bad dream and make it better? Or when it’s over is it just over?