Dreams of our lives

 

By Andrew W. Griffin

Feb. 25, 2022

Perhaps it was because I started reading Denis Johnson’s novelette Train Dreams. In fact, yes, that seems like the most likely reason that I had my own “train dream.”

This dream – which takes place in a seemingly rural/industrial environment – involves train cars that are shaped like elongated arrowheads; sleek and smooth and sharp. And most importantly, aerodynamic.

Somehow, I cause one of the pointy train cars to derail, hit a parked vehicle and smash into a warehouse-like building. What is strange is that as I write this, snippets of this dream and a few others this week seem to be swirling around in my mind. Foreign voices. Well-worn environs. Shabby and bohemian, I would say. In contrast to the sleek, pointy and aerodynamic train car. Why are train cars boxy? Why aren’t they more aerodynamic, I asked no one in particular.

Of course I am in the midst of writing a book involving a railroad line. I was nearly killed by a train at a rural train crossing in Louisiana nearly 20 years ago. Trains have loomed large in my life.

A brief check of “train dream analysis” online gives some different explanations, but one that jumped out at me was that my life is “out of control.” Perhaps. I am feeling a bit overwhelmed by events in my life. And with “all hell breaking loose” in Ukraine, well, that situation feels like it is rapidly spinning out of control.

Have I felt increasingly emotional? Yes. One of my best friends died a few months ago and they still don’t know how she died. My parents were very sick and my writing has been stop-start of late. Am rewatching the miniseries Roots and started weeping. And now, on top of it all – chaos brewing around the planet.

In the meantime, I am digging on some Wes Montgomery jazz guitar. Here is a link to his piece “Four On Six.” If the music sounds familiar, recall the theme music for the daily soap opera  Days Of Our Lives.

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