I think you might have seeded another anxiety dream: forgetting to charge it and arriving at customs with a flat ePassport! I am going to be worrying about that now...
“This clinking bottle has something clear and fizzy, the yellow label wrapped around the glass that's now in my hand.” Great use of sound to bring a moment of focus and clarity through the diaphanous sheet that folds over a dream sequence. I love when I remember those weird transformations in a dream, almost like briefly waking before being drawn back under the blanket. Always a pleasure to read your writing!
Footnote 1: You're right. It's me. A case is afoot! The case to find a case to find a luggage among the laughing onlookers looking at you looking at them, laughing, laughing. That is a strange, surreal, strained, albeit funny dream you had. I had a similar one in which frogs laughed at me. I hope you'll grace us with more! PS: Happy Substackaversary! I believe it's the month you started your journey here?
Must be the best use of the image generator I’ve seen. Looks like a German expressionist painting. I looked for a link to one. Makes me think of Daumier’s Third Class Carriage.
To me the idea of empty trains feels more terrifying for some reason, because you’re vulnerable in the carriage. (Edward Hopper has some good paintings of this.) but I also delight when I have a ton of space on the train, so there you go weird brain of mine.
Intro is a lovely dive into the mind. Relatable. The dark ways of the mind are often more haunting and exhausting than reality. Plus you keep your reader guessing! I’m for it.
Reading this makes me feel less alone in my strange dreams. What is this weird place we travel to in our sleep? My recurring dream is set in a crowded party/event in a big, dimly lit hotel-ish building. The people there are not very nice, and I'm sort of wandering around from room to room. Two nights ago, I misplaced my bag containing my wallet and phone in one of the rooms... oddly similar to your dream, Nathan.
I’m very glad you put that #1 footnote in there, because I was going to say..! You’ve perfectly captured (and transferred!) the tension of an anxiety dream, here. Have you ever read any dream interpretation books? Or had someone analyze a dream of yours? I remember being told ages ago that water in dreams represent emotions (which, as someone who frequently dreams of watching incoming tidal waves, I immediately dismissed).
Made me smile all the way, the rhythm and words reminded me a bit of Dr. Seuss. In the best way. The Man with the Bag with his Cat in the Hat! Only, the cat was in the bag. This was fun!
I think you might have seeded another anxiety dream: forgetting to charge it and arriving at customs with a flat ePassport! I am going to be worrying about that now...
intriguing, and very Oulipian: Georges Perec recorded his dreams and published a book of them.
“This clinking bottle has something clear and fizzy, the yellow label wrapped around the glass that's now in my hand.” Great use of sound to bring a moment of focus and clarity through the diaphanous sheet that folds over a dream sequence. I love when I remember those weird transformations in a dream, almost like briefly waking before being drawn back under the blanket. Always a pleasure to read your writing!
Footnote 1: You're right. It's me. A case is afoot! The case to find a case to find a luggage among the laughing onlookers looking at you looking at them, laughing, laughing. That is a strange, surreal, strained, albeit funny dream you had. I had a similar one in which frogs laughed at me. I hope you'll grace us with more! PS: Happy Substackaversary! I believe it's the month you started your journey here?
You plug your passport in to charge! Brilliant.
I quite enjoyed this, usual style or not. It feels a little bit like a Picasso painting although the one you put in the post is a great fit as well.
Must be the best use of the image generator I’ve seen. Looks like a German expressionist painting. I looked for a link to one. Makes me think of Daumier’s Third Class Carriage.
To me the idea of empty trains feels more terrifying for some reason, because you’re vulnerable in the carriage. (Edward Hopper has some good paintings of this.) but I also delight when I have a ton of space on the train, so there you go weird brain of mine.
Intro is a lovely dive into the mind. Relatable. The dark ways of the mind are often more haunting and exhausting than reality. Plus you keep your reader guessing! I’m for it.
I've had similar dreams
I’ve definitely had dreams like that. Enjoy the tennis! Hugs and best wishes.
I was so wrapped up in and feeling your anxiousness I forgot it was a dream!
Reading this makes me feel less alone in my strange dreams. What is this weird place we travel to in our sleep? My recurring dream is set in a crowded party/event in a big, dimly lit hotel-ish building. The people there are not very nice, and I'm sort of wandering around from room to room. Two nights ago, I misplaced my bag containing my wallet and phone in one of the rooms... oddly similar to your dream, Nathan.
I’m very glad you put that #1 footnote in there, because I was going to say..! You’ve perfectly captured (and transferred!) the tension of an anxiety dream, here. Have you ever read any dream interpretation books? Or had someone analyze a dream of yours? I remember being told ages ago that water in dreams represent emotions (which, as someone who frequently dreams of watching incoming tidal waves, I immediately dismissed).
As Ebeneezer might say, “Perhaps a bit of undigested beef...” 😂
Fun! I've been dreaming of strange gardens lately - tomato trees lined up to the horizon, dripping with fruit; and black pumpkins shaped like spiders.
Made me smile all the way, the rhythm and words reminded me a bit of Dr. Seuss. In the best way. The Man with the Bag with his Cat in the Hat! Only, the cat was in the bag. This was fun!
I have to say Nathan that this is probably the best dream sequence I’ve ever read.
I still remember the jugs. 😁