I had a dream where I was roaming an old abandoned city somewhere out West. It was literally a ghost town.  I was in a horse and buggy while exploring the area. Whenever I went into a building, I would see fragments of what it had been like possibly years before (there was no way to reference time there).  

As I came out of the old hotel, my saw a large white car with horns on the front (kind of like Boss Hog’s vehicle from the Dukes of Hazzard) cross an intersection about two blocks away. I got back into my rig and started to head the way the car went.  I was curious to see who else this place may have drawn.

I caught several glimpses of it as I roamed the deserted city.  Then, after wandering for some time once I lost it, I saw it parked outside an old saloon. I tied up the buggy and went inside.  An old piano was playing on its own in the far corner. The old bar was worn and broken at the corners. Everything outside was in colour but inside the saloon, it was suddenly black and white.  Except for a bandana that was tied around the banister that lead to the rooms above.

I went to the banister and untied the bandana.  It was red and black and I stuffed it into my pocket.  As I did so, the room burst into life with phantoms all around, dancing, laughing drinking, playing cards. From the stair I looked out over the room before I went back to the bottom.  I stood there a moment, until a woman, a server, walked by. I tired to tap her on the shoulder but when I touched her, the whole scene vanished.

I then began to go up the stairs again, confused about what was going on.  Then I heard something in the room at the far end of the upper landing. I made my way to the door, which was closed and pressed my ear against it.  I could hear someone speaking in a low voice inside, but couldn’t make out what was being said. Slowly, I grabbed the handle and opened the door.

Inside was my husband playing with a dog.  It looked like your average mutt and it was wagging its’ tail. He was petting it and rubbing its’ belly as it rolled around on the bed.  Suddenly, Shawn turned and saw me in the doorway. The dog began to bark at me wildly and Shawn drew a gun and level it at me and yelled: YOU!

As I ducked in fear of him shooting me, the dog jumped out the window.  I crawled back into the hallway then scrambled to me feet. I ran down the stairs and out to my buggy.  All the while, Shawn was chasing me yelling things like: “Hey! Where are you going! My lead my wants a word with you!” And I heard at least 3 shots fired from behind me.  

I quickly got in the buggy and started to race through the city.  I noticed that as I flew through intersections, that if I looked to either side, there were packs of dogs on the adjacent streets following me, barking wildly. And I could understand what their barks meant.  

Some of the barks were saying follow her, or get her.  Others were saying that the master will be so very pleased if they catch me.  One of the leaders was saying they needed to cut me off at the pass. All the while, Shawn was in the large white convertible chasing me from behind, following me.  I came to a crossing of train tracks where the dogs converged on me and Shawn caught up from behind. He was standing in the vehicle with a brown bess pointed at me.

A train was coming, the guard rail was down.  I had only seconds to decide if I would try to cross before the train got there.  Shawn fired in my direction and the bullet broke the guard rail. The horses on my buggy were spooked at the noise and rushed forward.  Just as I was crossing the tracks in the buggy I look to my right and the train is less than a foot from me. I woke up.

In this dream, I was on an away mission with the crew of Star Trek Next Generation.  We were exploring a dark planet. From the moment we landed the area was barren and covered in blackness.  The horizon merged with the ground, the sky, it was hard to find our footing at first. We moved across the landscape until we came across a lone building in the desolate space.  From the outside it seemed to be made of black mirrored glass. It was not very large, maybe 20 feet by 20 feet with a flat roof. The Captain walked up to the panel facing us and placed his hand on the surface.  A door appeared and drawing his weapon, the Captain entered with us following suit.

Th room inside was a small bachelor apartment.  Immediately on the left was a kitchen area, with an island.  There was a small dining room area with a table set for six. In the other corner was a couch and a flat screen on the wall across from it.  

On the table were six plates of spaghetti and meatballs.  On the other side of the table was another door. The Captain went and opened it.  I twas a small bedroom with a half washroom. There was a dresser, an old, small writing desk and chair, and an armoire, with a bed in the centre of the room.  

After taking a quickly look around, we went back into the main area.  On the table was now a note that said eat and be merry. Curious, the Captain sat.  After a moment, he told us all to sit as well, which we quickly did. He said he felt this must be the work of Q.  But which Q, he opined, he could not say. I asked in what way. And he said he didn’t know. But we would probably find out soon.  He then said “Shall we?” As he picked up a fork and spoon, preparing to spin a bit of pasta, I nudge my portion with a finger. The moment my finger made contact, the noodle became a beam of light and my hand stuck to it.  Suddenly, I was being transported through space and time. A moment later, the Captain and the crew were with me. All but Data.

As we travelled, the Captain flung himself over the beam of light and sat astride it, instead of being hoisted along hanging from beneath.   It seemed a sound idea so we all did the same. We traveled like this for some time. I asked about Data and One stated that Data isn’t biological, so we might assume he could not be transported.  I asked why he thought that and he said, it’s just a feeling. It just made sense to him. That seemed fair enough.

Finally, we saw a planet.  Without slowing, we continued towards it until the ground seemed to be coming at us at light speed.  Just as I was about to impact, I woke up.

This dream is from January of 2017.

ONE

I’m outside this old, dilapidated house.  Its huge and dark and unkempt. There’s an old iron fence that once stood solid against the world.  It now barely stood at all. Rusted and broken, it poorly lined the property. But now, it couldn’t even keep out the weeds.

I followed the path into the house, then in through the foyer.  It’s a typical foyer for a house of this size. Massive, open with a double staircase, one on each side of the large entryway.  To each side is an entrance into another area of the mansion. And if one looked very closely, they would notice a door carefully crafted into the wall beneath the stair on the left.  If there was also one of the right, it was adeptly done and imperceptible.

I thought I saw a flicker of light at the top of the staircase, so I stood for a moment to see if it would show itself again.  Just as I was about to check out one of the side passages, I caught the flash of light again, so I decided to go up the stair. I felt as though I was following a will o wisp, only the house replaced the scenery of nature.  Memories in place of leaves, doors and other rooms in place of tree trunks, creaks and groaning boards in place of birds and insects. Leading me ever up. Finally, I arrived. And I felt as though I was home.

Before me was the most amazing library I could have every imagined.  It was essentially oval in shape and clearly took up the top floor of the mansion.  Yet, the floor curved and flowed, up and around creating a wave of shelving with countless books.  But in the centre was the strangest sight of all, especially if you know me. There was a giant birds nest.

It looked well used and tended.  It seemed to radiate a warmth that would have drawn me closer, had I not been on the verge of fear induced panic.  I turned my back on it, and started to focus on the place I came in. It was now concealed behind a bookshelf. So, I started to give it a good look over.  Upon closer examination, I could see the faint line where the doorway had been. I scanned the books but I could only read some of the titles. Others were written in Gaelic, Italian, Spanish, French, and other languages I was not able to identify.  Some of them struck me as older than time and I was compelled to leaf through them, one by one, taking my time. Some had pictures which seemed to tell me a whole chapters in just one pane. Others imparted a feeling of what it was trying to convey. I felt nothing malicious of nefarious.  Just pure knowledge surrounding me.

I had gone about halfway along this wave of shelves, another unusual book in hand.  I was slowly moving along when I realized there was a room off to my right. I looked up to see it was a small mother in-law apartment, complete with a bed, sink, stove, small fridge, a cupboard above, pots and pans below.  There was even a small washroom built into the corner. It was larger than it looked like it could be from the aisle. I set the book down on a small table with a single chair in front of it. I made a sandwich and got some lemonade out of the small fridge.  I then sat down and ate with one hand while perusing the book with the other. I cleaned up after myself then went back out into the library. I traced my steps and put the book back in its home. Then I wandered back towards the little apartment and beyond it.  

I wandered for some time scanning shelves and books.  I had grabbed another and just had this natural inclination to sit.  It took me a moment to realize my horror. I had willingly sat in the giant nest of a potential predator.  As I started to scramble to my feet, the world around me went into a chaotic flux. Like a remote changing the channel, I stood to find myself back outside, in front of a large nest just like the one in the library, but this one was in the backyard.  Just behind the nest I saw a greenhouse about the size of a two car garage. Hesitantly, I began towards it. I wanted to be away from the nest in case it’s occupant returned. I was about 50 feet from the greenhouse when I saw a large shadow put the whole of the backyard into a murky darkness.  I quickly turned back towards the nest, hoping I could get back inside before whatever it was reared its’ fearsome presence. The thought of a giant, monstrous bird incited my flight response overwhelmed my better judgement. And I felt this impending sense of doom if I didn’t get back to the nest and back to the safety of the library.

I heard the screech behind me, it was close.  I could sense it behind me. Just as I reached out to touch the nest, I felt a burning in my shoulder, as if I had been struck my a large sword.  I fell into the nest and woke up.

This dream is from August of 2016.

I’m in this old house, I think it’s the same one with the library.  It’s been about a year since I had that dream but it is the first thing that comes to mind as I look around the passage I’m in.  I can’t tell where in the house I might be, there are no windows, and no doors so far. It’s just a long passage that seems to have odd angles every five to ten feet.  It felt like I walked an age and nothing ever seemed to change, except the quirky little bends in the hallway. Finally, I looked down and something on the floor caught my eye.  

It was a penny.  It seemed like an ordinary penny, but it somehow felt very out of place.  I bent down to pick it up. As I lifted it between my thumb and index finger, the penny began to bleed.  It slowly let loose a drop, down my arm, to the tip of my elbow and onto the spot I had picked it up from.  I went to wipe the blood off my arm, but there wasn’t anything there. It was as if it meant to mark the place where it had been.  I seemed to understand this, but could not fathom why.

I continued down the hall, examining this penny, looking to see if I could find where the blood may have come out of.  I looked up, jst to see where I was going and suddenly there were three doors. One on the left wall, and two, about 15 feet apart on the right.  I walked to stand between the three doors. At first glance, they all looked the same. But I nervously began to rub the penny between my thumb and index finger, and continued to look from door to door to door.  Then, one of the door seemed to shake slightly, and there, in the center at about my eye level, was a penny on the door. I looked down at the penny in my fingers, but it was gone. There was no handle on the door.  So, I ran my hands around the edges as far up as I could reach. I could find no latch. And, with the penny essentially staring me in the face, I felt I knew I had to pick it up. Using my thumb, I pressed it upwards. It slid off the door and into my hand.  But it left behind a dollop of blood in the same spot it had been on the door.

Penny in palm, I felt it start to warm up and a handle slowly began to appear on the door before me.  But instead of using it, I stepped closer to the door and it opened on its own. Another damned hall. But this one sloped down.  The ceiling seemed to be the only source of light. It gave off this sickly illumination, like a 30 year old emergency light on burning it’s last fumes.  This hall did have more doors. I slowly walked passed each because none seemed to have the mark I sought. Every door I passed seemed more battered and broken than the last.  But none had a penny. After about 13 doors in all, the hallway ended. Just a bare wall with no offering of an exit.

It felt like the last penny was still in my palm.  I could still feel the heat radiating from it. As I walked back down the way I had come, the pennys’ warmth dwindled.  I stopped as soon as I felt the change. I then took a step backwards, towards the dead end. It pulsed, another step backwards, another pulse.  I turned and started back, looking more carefully around me.

Between two doors almost back at the dead end, there was a small square impression in the wall.  In its centre was what looked like a penny painted onto it. It didn’t quite look real, but as I opened my palm, I saw the penny was gone.  I hadn’t even noticed. I was a little pissed at myself. But now, the penny looked more stable, tangible. I pushed up up and again it fell into my palm and the square of plaster turned a deep shade of red before it dematerialized in front of me.  I began to climb in and realized that it was actually a dumb waiter. Some one must have sealed it off at some point. But as I sat in it, it quickly dropped. After the initial terror of free falling in a barely people sized box, I realized I could jam my legs out and my hands up to keep from jostling.  As soon as I was stretched and connected to the encasement, I felt a surge of energy burst from within and the dumb waiter slowed its descent. I slowed it. I could feel it. The push of air from below, the pulse of energy pushing back from me, it was a beautiful cycle of air, moving to my will.

The box came to a gentle halt with an opening exposed and accessible from in or out. Nothing seemed off limits here.  I poked my head out, then realized that’s probably the worst thing I could do and pulled back in like a turtle. I leaned left and right to get a better view of what lay outside my confines.  I looked like a large, rock hewn room. Maybe a basement, I thought. I couldn’t hear anything. And it was an odd silence, that ran the blood cold and put one’s hackles up. I steeled myself as best as I could and listened for any trouble as I slowly came out, sure to look around as went.  I seemed deserted.

The room was a simple basement, and it was cold and no sound seemed to carry here.  It was completely bare, except for the opening to the dumbwaiter and a crack in the wall in the far corner.  I was really starting to feel anxious. I was terribly late for something and I really had to go. More than that, I just really wanted to be anywhere but there.  I turned around and suddenly there was a giant nest. I leapt towards it and suddenly I was in the backyard of the old mansion. Since I had landed face down into the brick a brack of the roost I flipped up hoping to see the library.  Sadly, I was in the backyard again. As I stood up from the nest, I realized I was face to face with the largest, fiercest looking bird I could never have even imagined. My worst nightmare looking me dead in the eye. I fell back into the nest.  I woke up.

This Dream is from February of 2019. (Added here to show how often my dreams seem to have some coherence).