An amazing childhood dream...

When I was 4 years old I had a rather amazing dream that has stuck with me for my entire life. I recall all of the details of the dream as if I had just awoken from it a few minutes ago. I am now 57 years old.

In the dream I was walking on a sidewalk. I was by myself. Along the sidewalk, on my right hand side was a tall wooden fence. It was the kind of fence where all the vertical boards were nailed tight together. There were no gaps between the boards so I couldn't see between them. The fence was of unpainted, weathered wood.

I had walked for quite a while when I came to a gap in the fence. The gap was a couple of feet wide so I could see through the fence. I remember standing in front of that gap, looking through it and being completely enthralled by the view before me. At the time, I didn't know what I was looking at. It wasn't until years later that I was able to identify that view. I was overlooking a broad desert valley. There were mesas extending to the horizon and huge piles of boulders throughout the valley. It was dry and dusty. I could see the wind making dust-devils in the distance. It was hot and dry. There were tumbleweeds and dry brush growing in loose clumps along the desert side of the fence. I remember looking away from the desert and back to the sidewalk. There were a few cars driving on the road next to the sidewalk. I remember hearing the whoosh of air as they passed by me. I couldn't understand why no one else but me was interested in seeing the view on the other side of the fence. How odd no one else cared or wondered about it but me! I wanted to stop one of the cars to tell them about the desert but I was much too small. I was just a little kid! Nobody would stop just because I wanted them to! There was a strip of green grass between the sidewalk and the street. The sky was a washed-out blue. I remember wondering why the sky was white at the horizon yet it was sort of a light blue color directly above me. I wanted to know why the sky was like that. I turned back around so I could see the desert vista once again. I had so many questions. I wanted to know what it was that I was looking at. In my entire life I had never seen a desert before. I had no idea what I was looking at or what it was called.

After a while I left the gap in the fence and continued on my way, walking along the fence and thinking about the amazing scene I had just witnessed, fixing the details in my mind so I would not forget such an amazing thing.

After a while, a came to another gap in the fence. As I walked up to the gap I noticed that the scene across the desert landscape had changed quite a bit. While I could still see mesas in the distance, they appeared to be much further away. In addition to that, I noticed a large cloud of dust far off in the distance. It looked like the cloud was moving and changing size and shape. It seemed to be getting closer. I remember thinking how interesting that cloud of dust was.

I left that gap in the fence and continued along with my walk.

I soon came to another gap in the fence.

As I looked to the horizon I spotted that cloud of dust again. Only this time, it was much larger and quite a bit closer. I remember thinking, "I wonder what's causing that cloud of dust? It's moving and getting closer to me!" For the first time since walking along the fence, my curiosity was tempered by little wisps of fear and concern. I was confused by those feelings. I couldn't understand why I should feel that way. How strange! What was to fear?

As I continued to walk along the fence I encountered numerous gaps. As I came to each one, I looked out to see where the dust cloud was. Each time I looked, the cloud grew closer and closer, larger and larger.

Finally, I came to a gap in which I could actually see that the dust cloud was caused by SOMETHING stirring up the dust. It was not caused by the wind! But, what was that thing that was causing the dust cloud? By now, the fear I was feeling was real and immediate. I was alarmed by the amount of fear I was feeling. I still couldn't understand why I should feel fear and apprehension! It just didn't make any sense to me. After all, I was just walking on a sidewalk next to a very odd fence. That was all.

I continued to walk along the fence, stopping to look through the gaps as I came to them.

I remember seeing another gap coming up. I could see dust blowing through the gap and wondering why. I had not seen dust blowing through any of the other gaps before!

As I came to this gap, a HUGE BEAR came lunging through it and roaring loudly.

The bear began to tear at me, roaring the whole time.

As I awoke, I could still hear the roaring in my ears.

It wasn't my imagination. I could physically HEAR the roaring as I lay there in my bed, terrified and crying.

Why would I have a dream like that? What could it possible mean to a 4 year old child? And, in real life, I had never seen a desert before. Not in books or pictures, not in films. Those were the days before television, so I know I'd never seen a desert on TV before.

How could I possible know what a desert looked like? I was from Sandpoint, Idaho! There are no deserts there! And what's up with the bear tearing me apart ???

And, what I think is rather remarkable is the fact that I can still remember this dream is such clear and vivid detail after over 50 years!! This very interesting dream has been a part of me for my entire life.

Any thoughts about this dream?

Hi Dan,

I've no particular insight into what this incredibly vivid, richly detailed dream may mean at present, but I would like to tell you how much I enjoyed reading about it. I greatly like your approach to narrative and the energetic way you employ language. I look forward to reading more of your thoughts and experiences here on the site.

I hope to have something useful to offer once I'm better rested and can give your dream more thought. Until then, keep the bears at bay and please keep posting.

All the best to you.