Nutcracker here (that's Ms. Nutcracker to those of you unfamiliar with me). Our friend and fearless leader (mentor, cajoler, confidant), Richard Catlett Wilkerson, has convinced me to start my own Dream Journal page on the www. I have to admit, my dreams have outgrown the space available in Electric Dreams. (Now this is where Richard wants me to interject something personal about myself.) Hmmm, let's see...

I'm happily married, no kids (that's why I'm happy), I don't do drugs (ok, the occasional Excedrin PM and Coca-Cola before bedtime), I don't smoke or drink (unless necessary). I'm not a rocket scientist, nor do I claim to be one. I don't have a PhD. I'm just your average, plain-jane, nearing middle-age female (of course that depends on *your* definition of middle age). Due to life circumstances I find myself with ample free time to devote to caring for my dreams (besides which it keeps me out of the bars during the day). LOL

On a more serious note, I began keeping a log of my dreams somewhere in January of 1995. I'm not sure exactly where they came from so abruptly (seemingly out of nowhere), but they were too interesting to let go unpublished. To quote my husband, "You couldn't make this stuff up if you tried!" So began my journey into the abyss of dreams. Here it is a year and a half later and I'm still at it. It does take perseverance mind you. Left unattended, dreams will not flourish on their own. Dreams are like flowers in a garden. Sure you get the occasional weed, but every once in a while you get one that blooms so bright and so large, it begs to be picked.

I keep a notebook and pen next to me on the bed and usually awaken during the night to write them down (sometimes all night long or so it seems...and yes, it is annoying). Still, I highly recommend this. If you think you'll be able to remember them come morning, don't bet on it. Been there, done that. Sometimes it works, but mostly it doesn't. I shudder to think about the ones that got away. My advice; get up, write them down and go back to sleep. You'll rest much easier.

As to the journal of my dreams that I keep, after the first year I've learned a few things. I now keep them by month. I write the date of the dream after them and I number each one (#001, etc.).

Finally, I encourage everyone to write down their dreams, write down your kids' dreams and dreams from friends and family. Dreams you and they have now may come back (recurring) 5, 10 or 20 years from now. They would be great to have as a reference.

Sweet dreams......

Nutcracker >>