Dreamed: August 4, 2025
I’m flying out of town soon, and apparently my subconscious is taking this very seriously. So seriously, in fact, that it’s been running nighttime simulations in the form of very specific dreams.
Dream #1 – The Impossible Hill
I’m riding in a car — no clue who’s driving — and up ahead is the steepest incline I’ve ever seen. Picture a roller coaster’s first drop, but in reverse, and on an actual road. Straight up. Gravity-defying. Totally unrealistic for anything that isn’t bolted to a track at Six Flags.
I’m instantly relieved I’m not driving — especially not in my old manual-transmission car, where I’d have been grinding gears, stalling, or rolling backwards. Somehow, we make it to the top, and I think we even catch air because the car in front of us did.
Then — no time to celebrate — there’s an immediate sharp curve. And that’s all I remember.
Funny thing — I’ve had this uphill dream before, but in those versions I was the one driving. The hill wasn’t quite as steep, but I still lost momentum and rolled backwards. This time, someone else had the wheel and we made it over just fine. Either my subconscious has outsourced its stress driving… or it thinks I’ve finally stopped grinding the metaphorical gears.
If this is a metaphor (and my subconscious loves a metaphor), I think it’s about heading into something big, steep, and maybe terrifying… but also knowing it’s not entirely in my hands this time. Which is kind of a relief.
Dream #2 – The Airport Scramble
This one is obviously inspired by my actual upcoming flight, but… extra chaotic.
I’m at an airport, and the guy at baggage check is asking why I don’t want to check my backpack. I explain that my laptop’s inside and I want to use it in-flight. He then pulls out a five-dollar bill from the bag — apparently something I now have to “declare,” because dream airports are also IRS offices.
Panic sets in as I check my suitcase, convinced I forgot to pack entirely. Turns out, there are clothes in there — apparently I’d pre-packed just in case — but no underwear. Zero. None. Then I remember, “Oh, I can just buy underwear after I land.” Problem solved.
The whole thing feels like a dress rehearsal for being underprepared, but also proof I can adapt on the fly. My brain basically went: You’ll probably forget something, but you’ll survive. Just don’t forget the pants.
Connecting the Dots
Both dreams seem to be about going into a big transition — part literal (Friday’s trip), part symbolic (memoir, website, life stuff). In both, I’m not fully in control, I’m not 100% prepared, and yet… I make it.
Maybe my subconscious is reminding me that not every climb or takeoff needs a perfect plan. Sometimes you just strap in, hold on, and trust that when you land — underwear or not — you’ll figure it out.
As usual, I ran these through a bit of AI-assisted dream interpretation, because my subconscious doesn’t exactly come with an owner’s manual. It’s nice having a second opinion when your brain serves you a double feature of steep hill physics defiance and TSA-approved underwear emergencies.
If my dreams are right, this trip will involve a few steep climbs, some midair surprises, and hopefully… fully stocked luggage.