The Oddities We Dream at Night
by Lailah Moridzadeh, Feature Editor

Although people may deny the fact they do it, it's been scientifically proven. We all do it every night. In fact, we spend one-third of our lives sleeping, and a portion of that time we spend dreaming. Dreaming is the sub-conscience's way of releasing stress. Dreams usually tie in with our lives or things we have recently done or are a premonition of the future.

Eighty percent of dreams occur during a stage known as Rapid Eye Movement (REM). During this stage, the body is limp and cannot be easily woken. The eyes move rapidly from side to side, hence the name REM. It's also been scientifically proven that dreaming is a necessity to stay alive. Various volunteers prevented from dreaming suffered hallucinations and memory loss.

Dreams are analyzed by professionals as a career but can also be analyzed by anyone for fun.

Anthony Curtis (00) had a funny tale to tell. He dreamt this dream at the age of thirteen. His dream involved his grandmother, third grade teacher, and fifth grade PE teacher.

He had been wandering through the halls of his middle school when suddenly from behind his grandmother and third grade teacher, Ms. Williams, appeared. Williams' arm stretched impossibly far as she tried to grab Anthony, but she missed because he ducked. He ran away but heard her yell, "Don't you run!" He ran through the hall and, oddly enough, it turned into a lobby of a grocery store including the automatic sliding door. He continued to run through the nearly empty grocery store. All that was present was an information desk, no registers, and plenty of noise. When he finally made it outside the store, his fifth grade PE teacher, Mrs. Held, drove up in a gray Cadillac and said to him as he peered in the window, "Get in."

"No." he blurted.

"Get in. I'm your godmother." (Ooooooh...scary)

Right then, his dream concluded.

Curtis' dream is an example of how dreams can be completely erratic and bizarre. First, let's analyze the members of the dream. Anthony was fond of Williams but wasn't crazy about Mrs. Held. His conscience made this distinction and, while sleeping, created a role reversal. The good turned evil and visa versa. Mrs. Held was there to save Anthony at the end of the dream and thus titled herself his godmother (a title given to those of privilege). This tells Anthony that there is good and bad in all. Held, usually mean, can be a good person at times.

His grandmother did nothing to help him but was present in the dream. When Curtis had a dilemma, the first person he spoke to was his grandmother. Her presence is a sign of protection. Williams attempted to grab him but missed. The grandmother is his guardian. The school transformation into a grocery store symbolizes a safer place. He and his mother frequently went grocery shopping together. From this point on in the dream, all turned out for the best. Even the cruel Ms. Held turned out to be an okay person even though Anthony didn't take the ride.

Send your dreams to Lailah Moridzadeh
for analysis, care of Ms. Hamilton in SH 204.