Van Gogh’s Wind Beaten Tree
Last week the East Coast was hit hard by an earthquake and a hurricane. Both. In case anyone missed it on the news. In case anyone had his head buried in the sand. In case anyone happened to be sleeping through this apocalyptic reality show.
On Tuesday, while visiting a friend in the hospital, we witness a bizarre sight. Nancy’s bed suddenly starts shaking, floor trembles, IV stand rattles, med bags swing back and forth... just like a scene from the Exorcist. Getting kind of spooky in here, I’m thinking.
Then, no sooner have we caught our collective breath from the quake shock than we find water, milk, bread, and batteries disappearing from grocery shelves… Irene’s a ‘coming. For sure.
By Friday, black clouds await their moment of fury. Wait to unleash buckets of water upon the earth and drown its inhabitants. Scenes like this make me want to kindly preach…
“Be prepared for whatever comes our way.” I’ve seen The Road and The Book of Eli. I know the world isn’t always sunshine and lollipops. Go ahead. Plug your ears with your index fingers and yell, “Lalalalala!”
On Saturday when the power abruptly shuts down, when fan blades stop mid-cycle, when the house grows dark as midnight, my daughter is at a loss. “What am I supposed to do now?”
“We have books in the house you know.”
“But it’s too dark to read. You want me to go blind?”
Winds of wrath slam hard against glass. Trees grow wild, writhing, twisting, bending groundward. Where do birds hide in this chaos? Waters rise and roil like a boiling cauldron.
Time for a heart to heart. “I already know what you’re about to tell me,” she says. “I need an inner life. Because then I won’t get bored.”
“Exactly. How do you think they survived for hundreds of years? They had an inner life. They knew how to occupy themselves without modern-day movie pyrotechnics.
“Just go back to bed and dream. Because that might be all the entertainment you’ll get for awhile. You never know, a masterpiece could be lurking somewhere in your unconscious mind. Did you know that Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein was based on a dream she had?”
Ever had a dream that could become a classic…if you wrote it down?
What’s one vivid dream you remember?
Debra I would love to live in your brain and see how it works... Now that could be my dream... I love your insights into life and what it has to offer!
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I am so happy to hear you guys made it through Irene ok. Do you have power yet? Many parts in CT still don't, our town has 100% outage at the moment! I can identify with the conversation you had with your daughter all too well! lol My children were devastated, particularly on the day where the hurricane was hardest, because they were stuck inside and it was so gloomy it was hard to read, etc.
ReplyDeleteHmm yes I can recall a couple of dreams, fragments of them calling my attention as I reflected on your questions regarding dreams. They definitely could have been movies! If I only had wrote them down at the time. I think dreams can be interesting and have been meaning, for some time, to make a regular habit of writing a dream journal. I think it's just a neat way of having a record of one's dreams.
Anyways, great post. ~ blessings
Me, too. I agree with Savira. My favorite line here 'get an inner life'. Where would we be without it. I don't even think about it because I have one and without it I'd be lost. I spend so much of my own time in there figuring things out, it's like an extension or second bedroom. As ever, you have me thinking..
ReplyDeleteSavira, the feeling is mutual!
ReplyDeleteJessica – CT still has 100% outage? Awful! Those poor children :( YOUR poor children. Pour YOU! Much of our area is still without power. Two of my piano students came over yesterday and reported no power at their homes yet. We were fortunate to have ours on again within a day. A neighbor across the street wasn't so lucky: her house was attacked by a tree – that huge monster barreled right into her roof.
ReplyDeleteI’m hoping to get the chance to analyze your dreams soon :) Hope you’ll do another post on the subject. I remember the first one well.
Great post Jessica - loved it. A few years ago when the power was out for about four days here our whole community changed. Families were out taking walks, playing games and doing things they hadn't done for years! It was SO good, and taught everyone a valuable lesson I think. Appreciate you!
ReplyDeleteBrenda, writers do tend to be contemplatives. Sometimes I wonder what my life would look like if it weren’t for an inner world. Because the inner landscape often seems more real than the outer – at least I’m known to pay more attention to it at times - yet trying to find balance. Do you think Stephen King is balanced though?
ReplyDeleteElizabeth - Sometimes losing power brings us out of our caves, out of hiding and into the light. Figuratively and literally! I hear heartwarming stories of neighbors coming out of the woodwork to lend a helping hand to those less fortunate. Amazing what disruptions in our busy lives can accomplish to make us more people friendly!
ReplyDeleteI'm with Brenda, that was my favorite line too. This is my first visit to your blog (from She Writes) and I'm enjoying my time here!
ReplyDeleteThat was the same comment my son made "What do I do now with no power?" I enjoyed my afternoon nap with the quietness of the house, no tv, no radio, to video games. UNTIL, my son says "I'm bored! What should I do?" Oh the joys of electricity!!!
ReplyDeleteMichael Ann – Thank you for swinging by and leaving your feedback. I still don’t know all the ‘She Writes’ ropes yet but I hope to learn. And I look forward to reading your words! I’ll be right over in a bit.
ReplyDeleteHomeschool Mom – I thrive on peace and quiet too. But teens? What to do, what to do?
ReplyDeleteAll those electronic gadgets are killing the imagination!
Inner life? Yes, yes, and yes! That's what got me through many an ice storm here in Georgia when we would have limbs fall and literally rip wires from our house. The last bout with no electricity was the blizzard of '93 - five days - no heat, no light, but a fireplace and lots of books to read!
ReplyDeleteAlso, loved the line, "where do birds go in all this chaos?" It reminded me of the last line in the children's book, "Time of Wonder" where McCloskey writes: "I wonder, where do hummingbirds go in a hurricane?"
God bless, Debra!
Debra, Great post. I love the way you described the earthquake and storm. Hope all is okay now.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure it would make a best seller or a blockbuster movie, but I had a dream that made a huge difference in my life. I wrote a blog post about it a few weeks ago, which is posted here: http://lindakruschke.wordpress.com/2011/07/30/dreaming-of-forgiveness/
I figured the link was easier than trying to retell it yet again. :) Peace, Linda
Wonderful post Debra! We even felt that quake all the way to Toronto! It was a strange week indeed... checking in on friends and relatives who were experiencing Irene, making sure everyone was okay...
ReplyDeleteI agree with Elizabeth that these situations have a way of bringing people together. It's funny how we cling to our creature comforts, but when they're gone, a whole new world opens up.
Human connection in the midst of loss or disaster - even among strangers - seems to be a theme this week.
I'm glad to hear from you Debra. We've seen how much Irene has devastated some areas there in the US and I'm praying for you..
ReplyDeleteInner life, have we all? Not just cultivated as much though...and certain circumstances create for us a space in order to look deep into ourselves.
I've this dream since I started with my human formation program and I had it interpreted by my spiritual director. I'd often see myself in a dirty bathroom...and then I'd see a light. My SD said it's my inner self filled with filth (sins) and the light coming in is God, allowing me to see my dark side... I guess that's how I started cultivating my inner life. I'd pray for consistence though because there are moments I'd wane and go back to my old ways...
Anyhow, thank you very much for your post. I really love it Debra :*
Yes...the inner life...I cannot imagine my outer life without my inner one! What wonderful advice to your daughter..."go back to bed and dream..." I love spending time daydreaming and imagining, and believing it possible.
ReplyDeleteI loved reading the comments too, Debra, and find it interesting how different things stand out for each of us. Thank you for a very enjoyable post!
Martha – Interesting that you mention ice storm because my daughter said (and I agree with her) that winter would be a far better time to lose electricity than in the heat and humidity of summer. At least you can build a fire (if you have a fireplace; and we do) and can cozy up with warm blankets and drink hot tea. But in summer you almost need a generator to stay sane.
ReplyDeleteI need to check out Time of Wonder. McCloskey rings a bell. We must have read some of the author’s work when the kids were younger.
Linda – I am looking forward to reading your dream that made such a difference in your life. At least you’ve written it down and it can’t be lost now. And you never know: it could become a best seller or a blockbuster film! Why not? When I get a chance, I’ll be over. I have some catching up to do.
ReplyDeleteWe are doing fine now. It was a jolt though, facing a killer storm. The media certainly did its job warning folks to evacuate or hunker down tight.
Kristen – I thought about you when I heard that the storm was heading on to Canada, and wondered how much it had weakened by that time. Have you ever heard of a hurricane making such a long path, all the way up the Eastern Seaboard?
ReplyDeleteOkay, I admit to clinging to my creature comforts :) Particularly air and ice in summer. And cold lemonade. You and Elizabeth are so right. A whole new world of community does open up in time of loss or disaster. Irene may have done more good than we know, if she has brought about connection.
Melissa – Dreams are certainly good fodder for SD sessions. I remember a few of mine that I discussed once upon a time. Do you think yours hit the nail on the head when he interpreted your bathroom dream? How did you feel about it? Have you had the dream again since? Dreams are just interesting subjects of conversation, don’t you think? / I do appreciate your prayers. The East Coast was devastated and it isn’t over, not with the current flooding problem. But you can pray that another one won’t hit us any time soon. Still much recuperation from Irene.
ReplyDeleteI had a very scary dream about 15 years ago -- in my dream I had let some diligent effort slide which left my son at risk, vulnerable to "evil". That dream was a reminder to me that my spiritual life is not only important to me but to my kids as well. They really do what we do, not what we say...
ReplyDeleteBec – Hi there! You have such a contagious smile :) On imagination…
ReplyDeleteA fool-proof method for sculpting an elephant: first, get a huge block of marble; then you chip away everything that doesn't look like an elephant.
To make a prairie it takes a clover and one bee,
One clover, and a bee,
And revery.
The revery alone will do,
If bees are few.
Dangerous Linda – I wish I’d known you then. I would have absolutely had a field day with that dream. We could have sat and talked about it over cappuccinos. There was a period of time when I was having recurring dreams about my son drowning. In one dream I’d see him in a swimming pool, in another at a river… I have a clue what it meant, but on this one I’m not 100%. Back you your dream. This is the son who writes and edits? I’m certain that your dream was instructional. No doubt.
ReplyDeleteDebra -- The dream I refer to was about my younger son. Yes -- it was instructional. As it turns out, I have a gift for interpreting dreams which some have found profound. I am at your service if you ever want to have a cyber-cappuccino ;-x
ReplyDeleteEarthquake, check. Irene, check. We just got power restored last night. What a week! I love how you put it in your post. I just lack that poetic, lyrical charm you have. Plain and simple the weather has been making a big impression round these parts in the east cost. Hope you're well and have power etc.
ReplyDeleteLinda – I just came back from reading the most delightful post about art; wow, that was an engaging post! Right down my alley. On dream interpretation… yes, cyber cappuccinos would be lovely. Imagine what a time we’d have talking shop :) Dreams are just too significant to shrug off as having eaten too much pizza.
ReplyDeleteRebecca – Thank you for taking the time to stop by and commiserate with me :(
ReplyDeleteOMG, you just had your power restored last night? You are a survivor girl! Cheers! Bravo! Kudos! We were among the fortunate who had our power restored within a day. However, many in our city and county were without electricity as long as you were.
Irene will be the talk of the East Coast for some time.
Another beauty from the house of El-Ramey ;) I guess it's hard for your daughter's generation. I guess Indian children are more used to power cuts. In fact there are villages where there's no power at all! Like you said, we've all got to realize the power within.
ReplyDeleteCorinne, thank you! We do have to realize the power within, don’t we? Our children too. Some of them need to visit India, particularly those villages of which you speak. In fact, many of us adults need to as well; what an education (and a wakeup call) that would be!
ReplyDeleteI do hope you all are fine...it must have been really difficult.
ReplyDeleteAs Corinne said,earlier when we did not have the comforts of batteries and generators,we would go without hours of power supply...and this still happens at times.
My dreams,I usually forget them,but there is one very vivid which I had a few months back after my sister passed away,I saw her very clearly,talking to me,crying that she didn't want to die...it was very early in the morning,I got up crying,and called up my Mom immediately...this is something I can never forget.
Alpana, I’m so, so sorry to learn about your sister. This must be a difficult time for you and your family, having lost someone so close. Of course you’ll never forget that dream, so vivid and heartbreaking. Have you written about this in any of your posts? If so, I must have missed it. If not, maybe it would help bring inner healing to do so. It helps me to talk about lost loved ones. I write about them frequently. It keeps them alive in my heart.
ReplyDeleteMy deepest condolence dear Alpana. ~ Love and peace XOX
Some call it daydreaming, i call it creative visualisation. What a wonderful ability it is to be able to produce our own movies in our minds. I enjoy seeing my future and can spend many a happy hour there. To me my dreams are showing me the light of things to come.
ReplyDeleteLarry, good to hear from you! Call it what you will: daydream, creative visualization, fantasy…
ReplyDeleteOr just fall into a deep sleep and let the unconscious mind produce the masterpiece for you. All of the above is the easy part. The hard part is transferring the images from the mind to paper.
Larry, your dreams are showing you the light of things to come, this I believe. You have such an optimistic outlook on life, and are great at passing it along to your readers. Bravo!
I'm glad you made it through Irene. There's nothing in this world that is more educational than being forcibly removed from technology. I love technology, and often joke how I cuddle with my BB and laptop. My daughter is constantly reading books, she prefers them to e-readers. Although, without having an e-reader it's easy for her to say that. My son on the other hand gets bored easily and he has constant access to TV and video games. He gets bored because he wants more technology, like a computer of his very own. Something tells me he might not last long on that without getting bored too. Teen boys are a trip. Funny you said dream as I just wrote about dreaming.
ReplyDeleteJenn, absolutely: there IS nothing more educational than being forcibly removed from technology :(
ReplyDeleteAre we rotten, or what? Kids nowadays! To them, we (or rather I) grew up in the dark ages.
You wrote about dreams? Be right over…
I agree...dreams are where all the juiciest morsels live. I think I might go mad if I didn't get that quiet, mystical time every day.
ReplyDeleteThere's a room with a fan on with a file cabinet, open just a smidgen. First one, then two papers get blown out and into the room swirling like a whirlwind higher and higher. Soon there are hundreds of papers set free, maybe even thousands, all whirring around, making a mess of the place, never touching the floor just flying, flying, flying. When we dream, we have the time to reach up, take a paper down from its flying space, and read. And when we do, we realize all the richness that has always waited patiently...for us to see.
I'm so glad you are in my life Debra. Thank you for this lovely post.
Brynne, all I know is this. You are, without a doubt, traveling to some amazing dreamscape to find such rich language. Is this room with the fan and file cabinet, where papers swirl like a whirlwind, in waking reality? Or in the inner world? I can’t quite tell which. I just know that you have an extraordinary imagination and are somehow in touch with a deeper level of thought than most. You are one who’s able to take the reader into your fictional dream, or into your magic house of words. And so, I’m not just glad you’re in my life. I’m elated!
ReplyDeleteDebra - life without modern technology (lights, heat, computers even) does give us time for pause. When I was a very little girl, my grandparents (farmers) did not have indoor plumbing or electricity. That was common in their area of the south. My dad, a carpenter/electrician/plumber, built a bathroom, installed running water and electricity. My grandmother was beyond joy! No more hauling water from the well in the yard for bathing and cooking, and she had lights to read by instead of lanterns. That was the turning point for my southern grand-dad's acceptance of his Yankee son-in-law.:D We kids found it all (except of the outhouse) rather fun.It was like camping. But we were 5 and 6 at the time and visited for short periods - it wasn't our daily lifestyle. I got off the subject of dreams, but it was my grandmother's dream to have running water, indoor plumbing and electricity. I wonder how many nights she dreamt of those miraculous luxuries?
ReplyDeleteMari, love this memory of your grandparents’ primitive life before indoor plumbing and electricity, and your visits to their home place as a child. I can see the place in my mind’s eye, the farm house and the land, including the outhouse and the barns. Wonder if they grew tobacco. This is North Carolina? I bet they both loved their Yankee son-in-law after the miracle of lights and running water! Your stories are so charming and vivid. A grandmother's dream come true! Love it!
ReplyDeleteAnother gem from you. I have a friend who was telling me that it was good they had power cuts there because his son was connecting more with the real world than the TV or a PSP. Nowadays kids are so used to all the gadgets that they seem to be at a loss without them. I keep telling my son Ron when we have no power that he should connect with nature or read a book.
ReplyDeleteHi Debra! I absolutely love this post. When we realize that our imagination and creative potential were crafted by God himself specifically for us and for all whom we may encounter along life's way, the possibilities for our inner life become endless.
ReplyDeleteRimly - thank you; you are so kind and gracious. Corinne mentioned the power outage problem in India. So this must be the case where you live? Frequent outages? I read that there aren’t a great number of original thinkers anymore because no one seems to have an inner life nowadays. That creative thought is practically non-existent across the board. What a sad commentary. Keep reminding Ron to get an inner life. He’ll thank you one day :)
ReplyDeleteBill – Thank you! That’s right. Knowing that we are created in his creative image should shape our thinking, shouldn’t it? –and move us from mediocre to marvelous in all of our endeavors.
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of that term for it (inner life) but I really like that! I definitely have an inner life. It is sad that so many people don't. Great post!
ReplyDeletegreat post. I have vivid dreams, but not the kind you want to share. I also like the "inner life" terminology.
ReplyDeleteRachel, the term ‘inner life’ has a broad meaning, but it includes prayer and contemplation, imagination, dreams, any part of the inward journey. But you’re right in saying that most don’t have one.
ReplyDeleteJan, I share my dreams (some of them) with only a few close friends who appreciate their significance.
ReplyDeleteOoh dreams are the fuel for most of my books. In fact Making of a Mage-King (coming out in October) is littered with scenes that originated as a dream. That's how I know I'm reading a good book, when it sneaks into my dreams.
ReplyDeletePerhaps you could come up with a movie like Inception
ReplyDeleteAnna - what ages are your books geared for? Are they targeted for children, teens, young adults? If so, I have plenty of folks who’d be interested. How exciting to learn that your stories originated from dreams – awesome!
ReplyDeleteKerrie – Inception might have been based on a dream. I’m paying close attention to mine in case I, like Anna, come up with a good story!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you are okay Debra, even if your daughter misses her gadgets. Ooh! Earthquakes certainly give one 'the willies', even we've had a couple these past few years,(only little ones) and we don't normally suffer. I think our World is going through a definite change.
ReplyDeleteHope your power is restored really soon!
Don't ask me about dreams, I've been subject to nightmares recently, the shouting and waking-up kind. Not nice!
Hugs and blessings Debra,
Jane x
Jane – yes, earth does seem to be going through changes; the weather is just going crazy! It’s like the dream world: you never know what signs may come.
ReplyDeleteAre you able to interpret your nightmares? :-(
We’re back to normal and all is well at the moment. But many on the U.S. East Coast have been devastated by flooding and loss of homes. Irene was a nightmare.
Debra, this post was so good, I could hear the hurricane winds all the way in Europe! :) You know my family lives in North Carolina and I had my eye peeled to every bit of news and made phone calls every couple of hours to check how everything was. Thankfully, they just received strong gusts of wind and medium to heavy rainfall. I thought it was incredible to be hit by a hurricane and an earthquake! I like to think of my "inner life" as my alternate reality. Young people today could benefit from exercising their inner lives. I don't know where I'd be without my alternate reality, given there are days I live more in it, than my real one! :) I like to escape there, now and then. Imagine I'm married to Javier Bardem, living on the Amalfi Coast, sipping pina coladas. hee hee! The thought that my life would be turned into a classic makes me giggle. I do dream of Mr. Darcy quite often. Does that count? :)
ReplyDeleteBella, your family from NC must not live in the eastern part of the state. They must live in the piedmont or west. Just guessing. Those winds were tremendous! The weather has gone insane. As we speak, there’s a flash flood warning for our area. Like we need more rain. Send it on to Texas where they are suffering from drought.
ReplyDeleteI like your term “alternate reality.” Tell Javier “hi” for me, will you? And while you’re sipping those pina coladas on the Amalfi Coast, think of me. But wouldn’t Mr. Darcy be jealous of Javier?
Your dreams could become a classic, if you can remember a good one. And if you write it down. It would probably be a comedy, though, don’t you think?
Debra, My dreams could become masterpieces but I am not too sure if I want to share them with anyone:) I think I will enjoy my dreams and live in them without the media highlighting my each and every move. Excellent post yet again.
ReplyDelete'Get an inner life'! You should copyright that. How very clever. Subterranean. Archetypal.
ReplyDeleteSulekkha – Take my advice: if you have a dream masterpiece, just write it as ‘fiction’. And don’t tell anyone, not even your agent, that it was a dream. Just let everyone believe you have a vivid and amazing imagination: D
ReplyDeleteCathy – Hey, you just gave me an idea… What a good book title! Too bad you can’t copyright titles, though you can books.
ReplyDeletewell, there was this one dream, where I was trapped in a high-rise apartment, with a bunch of people I didn't know, and nobody could hear us, and we couldn't communicate with the outside world – it was one of those "different dimension" things – we could see outside but we couldn't communicate – and there was an old sea captain type involved – and this is sad – at one point one of the people couldn't take it anymore and jumped out the window – and disappeared – which I guess is better than what could have happened – it was a long way down. And there was another one that involve time travel and changing destinies – and the magical coin. Yep – could've been bestsellers :-) God bless you Debra!
ReplyDeleteHi Craig, I’m trying to break down those dream symbols. High rise = some apartment in heaven? Where no one on the outside world could hear you? I’d say heaven is a different dimension, either that or the Twilight Zone. But it must not have been heaven if someone couldn’t take it anymore and jumped out the window. So it does sound like the Twilight Zone after all. And the sea captain type juxtaposed with the high rise setting is interesting. Changing dimensions…and the magic coin… I’ll have to stay tuned! Yeah, I can see bestseller material here. You may have a future in fiction like Tolkien and Lewis.
ReplyDeleteSalviano,
ReplyDeleteGracias por las ideas y versos de las Escrituras! Y gracias por venir.
Ohhhh, living in SoFlo I can relate to the storms. . .so sorry :-( I have had nightmares that have played themselves out in real life and I'm waiting for the secret, golden dreams to do the same! xoxo
ReplyDeletePam, who knows what dreams may come? I’ve dreamt of tidal waves and of being paralyzed, as well as “secret golden dreams.”
ReplyDelete"I have dreamt in my life, dreams that have stayed with me ever after, and changed my ideas; they have gone through and through me, like wine through water, and altered the color of my mind." ~ Emily Bronte
ohhhhhhhhhhh I'm so glad you are ok and the storms and earthquakes have passed for now....I admit I was chuckling at thinking how devastated your daughter and others would be without modern conveniences such as electric....yes I have had dreams..some that have already played out in life..some I am waiting to see....As always...XOXOXOXO
ReplyDeleteWow the word "dream' is coming my way a little to often today! This is the 4th time it has made its round! I wonder if it signifies something! I am not much of a dream person - it comes and goes without making any permanent mark on me! Loved being here as usual Debra! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThis is a good post, I got my sons to read it. I can't seem to get through to them that there's more to life that digital games and that they need to be able to do more with their imagination for their own good.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you are doing fine after mother nature's tantrum.
My books are geared mostly toward young adults, but since I don't pull any punches, I figure they should go through the parents first. I know many adults who read this kind of story (myself included), so I don't necessarily target the YA group.
ReplyDeleteBonnie - The storms are beginning to bear a semblance to labor pains: hurricanes and earthquakes coming closer together with little reprieve :-(
ReplyDeleteI’ve heard numerous parents saying how their kids lamented over the loss of electric gadgets; thus the “get a life” message.
Isn’t it interesting to watch dreams play out in waking reality? Strange though.
Kriti – Anything that keeps coming your way is significant. Why do you suppose the word “dream” is recurring in your world? You say you aren’t much of a dream person, but maybe the word keeps persisting because it’s trying to get your attention, you think?
ReplyDeleteBeing Me – who CAN get through to the kids when they are addicted to digital games? As Albert Einstein said, “Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life's coming attractions.” I don’t know what it will take to wake kids up. Maybe they should all watch The Road and see what life might look like without anything but survival skills.
ReplyDeleteAnna – From what I’ve read of your stories, they do seem to be geared toward youth and young adults. What an imagination YOU have! Are they classified as fantasy? Don’t you just LOVE storytelling?
ReplyDeleteGive me a book, and a flashlight, and I'm set. Spent many such hours as a child. My mind was a fertile field, and all I needed to be happy was any book, a pencil or charcoal, and sketch pad.
ReplyDeleteSadly, I rarely remember my dreams now. I am trying to retrain my brain...I used to be able to remember, and had many creative surges when dreaming. :D