Much more often than not I don’t remember my dreams. Throughout most of my life, my dream memory has stayed on a pretty consistent rhythm. For reasons I never really figured out, I would go most of the year having no memory of my dreams, and then, for about one week straight, I would remember my dreams every night.
And then nothing.
This would typically happen about twice a year.
But for the last month I’ve been remembering my dreams almost every night. Maybe I’ve skipped a few Much more often than not I don’t remember my dreams. Throughout most of my life, my dream memory has stayed on a pretty consistent rhythm. For reasons I never really figured out, I would go most of the year having no memory of my dreams, and then, for about one week straight, I would remember my dreams every night.
And then nothing.
This would typically happen about twice a year.
But for the last month I’ve been remembering my dreams almost every night. Maybe I’ve skipped a few nights, but it’s been pretty consistent. My guess–and I’m not saying this is any great leap of logic–is that it’s just stress related to my wife’s recover from heart surgery. Not only has she been on the mend, but I’ve kinda had my hands full during this time.
It’s what you do when you love someone. You pick up the slack. Normally we share the household chores, but for now it’s just me. So even though each task unto itself isn’t so much, combined it adds up. There’s almost always something that needs doing.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not complaining. Liz would do exactly the same for me if our situations were reversed. And overall she’s an amazing patient. It’s just that I really haven’t had a day off in about a month, when you add in my day job, the household demands, trips to the doctor and going to and from visiting my in-laws in New Jersey. Beyond the physical demands, it’s the mental part of it. I’m always kind of "on duty." So I haven’t had nearly as much mental down time as I’m used to.
Thus, my dream memory. I’m assuming. I haven’t had any dreams about the surgery or Liz’s health–at least not in any overt way–but most of my dreams have been a little dark, and a little intense. Nothing that a few weeks on a beach wouldn’t cure, but it’s been strange nonetheless. I’m sure it didn’t help last night that we watched CRASH on DVD. It’s a very good movie, but certainly no kinda fun. Probably not the best input right before bed.
I keep telling myself that I should keep a dream journal, just some book in my night stand so I can jot down any dream memories right away. And I keep not doing it.
Oh well.
Maybe my dreams’ll keep up, maybe not. There’s always a chance for another dream. Maybe even tonight. And when I wake up, maybe I’ll even remember what it is.
