Compare travel nightmares
Jun 17th, 2003, 11:11 AM
#1
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Compare travel nightmares
I added a new twist to my normal travel nightmare last night. Normally the dream goes as follows: it's time to leave for the airport and I'm not packed, and can't seem to get packed, although I've been trying and trying to get things into a suitcase.
Last night I added whole new dimensions to the dream. In the dream the alarm goes off indicating it's time to leave for the airport, but this time, not only am I not packed, but I don't even know where I'm going, or which airline I'm going on. Surely I think I must have it tucked away in my email somewhere but a search of all email folders produces nothing...nothing in "business", nothing in "read" mail, nothing in "deleted", and nothing in "sent" where I at least hoped to find a message to the kids letting them know where we were off to--thus giving me some clue myself.
As always the dream alarmed me enough that I did wake up...but only enough to realize with some relief that all I had to do was look in "my stuff" or whatever it's called in Orbitz and Travelocity, and I'd be able to find my itinerary. Still wasn't aware of the fact that I actually had no trip.
All of this of course is a variation on the school dream that many of us have. Mine always entails 2nd semester senior year and finding I'm enrolled in a course I didn't realize I had, the final exam is that day, but I've never been to class, nor have I taken any of the hour exams, done any papers, or read the textbook...and I need it to graduate. Normally I'll wake from that dream trying to list all the classes I'm taking this semester to see if I'm up to date, then finally, FINALLY, realizing with an enormous sense of relief, that I've graduated (38 years ago now)!
There is actually some basis to that dream. While in Bermuda over Spring Break my junior year in college, I saw someone from one of my Psych classes and asked if he was ready for the exam (scheduled in my syllabus for just after Spring Break). "What do you mean?" he asked. "We just had the exam!" Yes, blush, I hated the class, had cut and not heard the exam date had been changed to just before break rather than after....and I had to go back to school and beg illness as an excuse with the greatest of Bermuda tans...
I'm ashamed even to tell you the story I laid on him.
Horror of horrors...will never forget that, and yes, it was my major and yes I did need the class to graduate! (He was nice...thus I have my degree!) Anyway, allegedly this is a dream of the disorganized procrastinator. Do others share it and does it impact the way you prepare for vacation? I make lists of things I want to pack and check things off as they go in, starting a couple of days in advance. Doesn't help in the slightest with the dream though, and last night's was a doozy! I imagine Bunch might have some doozies to share too!
)
Last night I added whole new dimensions to the dream. In the dream the alarm goes off indicating it's time to leave for the airport, but this time, not only am I not packed, but I don't even know where I'm going, or which airline I'm going on. Surely I think I must have it tucked away in my email somewhere but a search of all email folders produces nothing...nothing in "business", nothing in "read" mail, nothing in "deleted", and nothing in "sent" where I at least hoped to find a message to the kids letting them know where we were off to--thus giving me some clue myself.
As always the dream alarmed me enough that I did wake up...but only enough to realize with some relief that all I had to do was look in "my stuff" or whatever it's called in Orbitz and Travelocity, and I'd be able to find my itinerary. Still wasn't aware of the fact that I actually had no trip.
All of this of course is a variation on the school dream that many of us have. Mine always entails 2nd semester senior year and finding I'm enrolled in a course I didn't realize I had, the final exam is that day, but I've never been to class, nor have I taken any of the hour exams, done any papers, or read the textbook...and I need it to graduate. Normally I'll wake from that dream trying to list all the classes I'm taking this semester to see if I'm up to date, then finally, FINALLY, realizing with an enormous sense of relief, that I've graduated (38 years ago now)!
There is actually some basis to that dream. While in Bermuda over Spring Break my junior year in college, I saw someone from one of my Psych classes and asked if he was ready for the exam (scheduled in my syllabus for just after Spring Break). "What do you mean?" he asked. "We just had the exam!" Yes, blush, I hated the class, had cut and not heard the exam date had been changed to just before break rather than after....and I had to go back to school and beg illness as an excuse with the greatest of Bermuda tans...
I'm ashamed even to tell you the story I laid on him.Horror of horrors...will never forget that, and yes, it was my major and yes I did need the class to graduate! (He was nice...thus I have my degree!) Anyway, allegedly this is a dream of the disorganized procrastinator. Do others share it and does it impact the way you prepare for vacation? I make lists of things I want to pack and check things off as they go in, starting a couple of days in advance. Doesn't help in the slightest with the dream though, and last night's was a doozy! I imagine Bunch might have some doozies to share too!
)
Jun 17th, 2003, 11:24 AM
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I can share a "horror" story - and it's not a dream! My son ordered paper tickets for his trip from San Francisco to Europe, and as the tickets were late he left with just a computer print-out. Upon arrival he called me to let me know he had arrived safely and staying at friend's house. Few days later he called me asking to open that envelope - somehow he did not have all the itinerary with him, so he did not even know on what date is his return trip!! He just forgot this small detail of his itinerary!! Good he called before the day of the return flight not after. >
Jun 17th, 2003, 11:26 AM
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OO, I'm reading your account of dreams and my skin begins to crawl as I remember those exact dreams when I'm getting ready to go somewhere. Ugh! Waking up in a panic like that is so exhausting!!!
I actually missed my final exam in college as I was either not paying attention (cough cough) or misread the time in the class schedule. Anyway virtually everyone had already left the dorms having completed their exams and I was hanging around for this one last one. Someone prompted me to check on the date for the test again as they thought it was pretty late for a final exam. When I discovered my error it was almost too late as the instructor was leaving on sabbatical. Fortunately she left an exam for me to take and it was corrected by the TA. I was changing majors so it wasn't a big deal anyway.
For an organized person these types of things make your blood run cold!!!
I actually missed my final exam in college as I was either not paying attention (cough cough) or misread the time in the class schedule. Anyway virtually everyone had already left the dorms having completed their exams and I was hanging around for this one last one. Someone prompted me to check on the date for the test again as they thought it was pretty late for a final exam. When I discovered my error it was almost too late as the instructor was leaving on sabbatical. Fortunately she left an exam for me to take and it was corrected by the TA. I was changing majors so it wasn't a big deal anyway.
For an organized person these types of things make your blood run cold!!!
Jun 17th, 2003, 12:18 PM
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I occasionally have similar nightmares - not being packed, not having my travel documents in order. It's weird because I am pretty compulsive about my travel documents and packing. I'm leaving tonight for a 3 day trip (business, not pleasure). I packed up my suitcase on Sunday and all of my travel documents are in a manila envelope ready to go.
Jun 17th, 2003, 12:46 PM
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How about being so concerned about missing a flight, that it's better to fly yourself. So take the required three steps and a jump, and be on your way. However, what seems about 1/2 way there, I get too tired and struggle in vain with the arms-straight-ahead-Superman-thing and go into a crash-dive (shades of Greatest American Hero).
Flying by airline is more relaxing.
Flying by airline is more relaxing.
Jun 17th, 2003, 02:16 PM
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I'm buckled into my seat and we are somewhere over the Atlantic south of Iceland. I suddenly realize I have no passport, no money, no wallet with any kind of ID, no luggage, no clothing other than the nightgown I'm wearing seated in the plane. I'm trying to figure out how to get to a passcontrol officer without going through the entire airport with my nightgown flying, and wondering whom to call to get the passport, money, clothes, etc., sent to me or whether I'll be put back on a plane and sent home.
Jun 17th, 2003, 02:51 PM
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I've had baroque variations on the exam nightmare for years, but never had packing nightmares until a friend of mine told me that she has them all the time. Now I do, too.
My best variation on the packing nightmare is that I'm stuck somewhere that I don't really want to be (did I mention that this is also a family visit nightmare?) and I just completely miss my flight, and don't even remember that I was supposed to fly until the following day. Then I throw myself on the mercy of the airline in order to have my non-refundable ticket changed, only to miss the new flight in the same way!
My best variation on the packing nightmare is that I'm stuck somewhere that I don't really want to be (did I mention that this is also a family visit nightmare?) and I just completely miss my flight, and don't even remember that I was supposed to fly until the following day. Then I throw myself on the mercy of the airline in order to have my non-refundable ticket changed, only to miss the new flight in the same way!
Jun 17th, 2003, 04:57 PM
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Olive,
you do know how to have a whopper of a nightmare!My school nightmares were the run of the mill, walking down the hall naked variety. Never dreamt about tests, hmmm~
Real travel nightmare:
We had tickets for a trip to Las Vegas last year. Paper tickets. Got them in the mail, they were opened in the kitchen, husband took mail upstairs.
Either in my imagination or really-one of us put those tickets in the spot that we keep all important papers and passports.
The week before we left, they were not there.
You know how many times I looked through garbage cans, where else a ticket could have been put, where someone who might be losing their mind might have thought to "hide" them, no tickets.
Now-do you do what Bunchargum might do and call the airlines and tell them I lost them? Nooooooo.
I called Continental and asked them why they had not sent the tickets yet.
Then I told them they had not arrived so obviously they sent them to the wrong address.
Then I was just tragic enough about what this did to my nerves so close to having to fly that they upgraded us to First Class.
We never did find those tickets.
The End.
Jun 17th, 2003, 07:42 PM
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I have the travel nightmare (no tickets, late, etc. etc.), the school nightmare (never went to class, never bought the book, can't get to the final exam), but I am also an actress and I have the actor's nightmare (never memorized the lines, can't find the costume, can't find the stage entrance). Sheesh, I sound like I need therapy! LOL
Jun 18th, 2003, 04:03 AM
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I try to get ready but can only move like I'm underwater. Hurry for the plane but legs go in slow motion like running in chest deep water.
There is a nightmare for the plane sometimes too. It is flying through a city and I do mean through it. The city looks like NYC and the plane, a full-sized jet, is flying down the streets about 1/2 up the skyscrapers, unable to gain altitude. This began pre 9-11 by the way! We never crash but it's more than a bit unnerving.
There is a nightmare for the plane sometimes too. It is flying through a city and I do mean through it. The city looks like NYC and the plane, a full-sized jet, is flying down the streets about 1/2 up the skyscrapers, unable to gain altitude. This began pre 9-11 by the way! We never crash but it's more than a bit unnerving.
OL
Jun 18th, 2003, 06:31 AM
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Back in graduate school I did miss the deadline for turning in the final because I was in the hospital. Luckily I had been down and out for the last few classes and kept my prof. updated on the illness. So he wasn't too surprised I didn't turn in anything and emailed him a couple of days after the deadline telling him I was going to mail it in because I couldn't handle the steps to his office.
The next semester was worse. I had a class with the prof from above and I dropped the class. It wasn't required and I wasn't going to make an A so why bother. However, I was also taking the required but worthless management class (as someone who took several business classes as an undergrad, this class was a total waste of time). When it came time for grades, the registrars office had recorded it wrong, they claimed I droped the management class and kept the elective. Of course I hadn't kept the drop form that long. The management class instructer was worthless saying I would have to take it again (HELLO, I participated in your worthless class, I have the assignments etc.). The prof from the dropped class came to my rescue along with the department dean to straighten things out.
After being frisked and having my carryon bag searched at the airport 10-days ago, maybe showing up at the airport naked and without bags just might make security easier. The guard with the wand was saying "pay no attention to me watch the person going through your bag."
The next semester was worse. I had a class with the prof from above and I dropped the class. It wasn't required and I wasn't going to make an A so why bother. However, I was also taking the required but worthless management class (as someone who took several business classes as an undergrad, this class was a total waste of time). When it came time for grades, the registrars office had recorded it wrong, they claimed I droped the management class and kept the elective. Of course I hadn't kept the drop form that long. The management class instructer was worthless saying I would have to take it again (HELLO, I participated in your worthless class, I have the assignments etc.). The prof from the dropped class came to my rescue along with the department dean to straighten things out.
After being frisked and having my carryon bag searched at the airport 10-days ago, maybe showing up at the airport naked and without bags just might make security easier. The guard with the wand was saying "pay no attention to me watch the person going through your bag."
Jun 18th, 2003, 06:36 AM
#19
Yup, the school dream is pretty much the same one as Olive Oyl. My daughter had that same dream the week before her bat mitzvah, and I ended up making a speech about it, concluding, "Welcome to my dream". I chose not to interpret it as a dream of the disorganized procrastinator (which I admit to being) but as an acceptance of adult responsibility.
The travel nightmare is usually about getting on the wrong bus or train to a place I don't intend to go to and trying to find the way back but I can never find the right street.
The travel nightmare is usually about getting on the wrong bus or train to a place I don't intend to go to and trying to find the way back but I can never find the right street.
