One class short

I have this recurring dream.

In the dream I realize I do not in fact have a diploma confirming my BS in Accounting.  No, I have an empty diploma holder because I missed one very important five credit Accounting class.  I have to go back to school to finish this class.  Clearly, a complete BS in Accounting is necessary to be a stay at home mom and to have NEVER HAD AN ACCOUNTING JOB NOR PASSED THE CPA EXAM.

Anywho, let's continue the dream.  I have to go back to school - Truman State University (formerly Northeast Missouri State University).  Mike says it'll be fine, he'll watch the kids and deal with work.  So I pack up my stuff and buy a loft bed (clearly I need this although I never did have one in college), and head back to the house I lived in for three years.  There's always a mix of roommates there who are in the same situation.  They too did not complete their majors and have had to leave husbands, children, careers, whatever behind to come finish.  But they don't think it's strange.  I'm the only one in the house who has a problem with it.  And although the house is the same, we are now all putting our loft beds in the dining room area because all of us refuse to live upstairs in the half story where 7 bats were sighted and removed during our three year stint.

And the campus.  The campus LOOKS the same, but is now technologically advanced and I cannot find my schedule or where my class is.  I don't know what book to buy and why is my class Monday through Friday for four hours each day?  Throughout my dream I keep thinking, "who cares?  Why am I back here?  This is ridiculous, I need to go home!" 

But my friends, my roommates - they find the whole thing fun.  They want to go out to our old hangouts.  They want to drink and dance and stay up late.  And I want to, but I'm torn.  And I also think we might look a bit ridiculous out on the dance floor what with being in our thirties and all hanging with 21 year olds.

In this dream I am so conflicted, confused and traumatized.  What am I doing there?  Why do I care?  And why are my friends so weird?

I honestly have this dream at least once a week, if not twice.  I can't figure out why I have this dream.  And then it occurred to me: 

This dream is a sign that I need to GO OUT DRINKING AND DANCING AND FEEL YOUNG AGAIN!

But then I remember.  Back then, a hangover was rare.  Back then I could lie in bed the next day until 2 in the afternoon, only getting up to order pizza.  Back then I didn't have these two fabulous children who need me to get through a day.  I did have Mike back then, but he slept until 2 also and would help pay for the pizza.

Ah to be young again.  Anyone else have random dreams like this on a recurring basis?  Please, anyone?

Comments

[Lala]

o.k. Jenny I too have a recurring dream; but it is not like yours. I am always trying to get "back home" on a plane or driving really fast (too fast for human life). I am in duress and need to get "home" yet I can never achieve arrival. Now, home is not here where I live now - I think it is New York but I can't figure that out either. I wake up exhausted sometimes because I am clearly struggling to get to this place. Wierd huh?

[Katie]

You call this a dream? I call it a nightmare! It would send me over the edge to go back to college and have to attend class again! The drinking and partying were my highlights, and the meeting my fabulous husband part and the fun football games, but the stress of class and living on no money, no thanks!

[Farrell]

I think your dream is about stress and maybe not feeling complete. Or feeling conflicted because you want to be young and carefree again, but you also love your family and couldn't bear to be without them. Anyway, i think it's normal. I don't have a recurring dream currently but I have had dreams like this. At least you're not dreaming about your ex. (damn subconscious!)

I'm happy to go out drinking and dancing with you. But you're right; hangovers last a lot longer now that I'm in my 30s than they did when I was in my 20s.

[aunt jackie]

I have the same dream. Sometimes I have to go back to 8th grade though. I keep thinking I have a masters degree, who is the world is going to know that I didn't really get through 8th grade. Sometimes it is highschool and then I have the college dream. I too can never find my classes and I have no idea where anything is but yet all the buildings are the same. I hate that dream and I have it about every other week now.