We are starting with written stories this week! Thank you for your help in making this project possible.
In My Dreams, I am Alone
by Erin Edmison
Last night I dreamt I was running on a dirt path, on a hill high above a beach, waves crashing on a rocky shore beneath me. The sky was a cool, pale blue; the sun was warm; the light thin and diffuse. It was morning in a northern place in springtime. Spring flowers were budding-- crocuses and daffodils. The air was crisp. My body was warm and sweaty from the run, but my face was cool. There was a breeze. I breathed deeply; the air filling my lungs was clean. I was alone.
The night before I dreamt I received a catalog from a friend-- the kind full of gift baskets of treats that mostly aren’t that good, but these looked amazing: the snacks I love, huge tins of macadamia nuts, dark chocolate covered pretzels with huge flakes of sea salt, cheese straws. Chocolate babka, packages of oily, vibrant pink lox. The friend told me to choose whatever I wanted, a gift from her! I was alone.
Last week, I dreamt I was having dinner with parents in a restaurant, at a table on a patio somewhere. Silverware rolls, water glasses. My mom held up a jaunty red cocktail in a glass that look like a tiny goblet. My dad and I reached into the same bread basket, our hands touching as we took warm hunks of baguette, spread them with butter. Last week, I dreamt about doing something that used to be normal-- eating out in a restaurant with people I loved. This week, in my dreams, I am alone.
Anonymous Story
My story is one that feels wrong to claim. I am partially grateful for this free time to reflect. Of course, I am not at all grateful for the death toll that is rampaging across the world right now. I would never wish the horrible experience of being sick with this virus on anyone. But my boyfriend and I are healthy, and I have loved this time to get to know him better and to actually spend some time with him when our normal schedules drive us apart. I now have time to finish all of these artistic endeavors that I never seemed able to get started before. This feels selfish, which is why this post is anonymous, and some people might say that I'm whining or that my not having free time is a "first world problem," but I truly feel like I am healing, mentally and physically, during this time. Part of my brain is worried about money, but I am mostly filled with relief that I am able to sit and create every day. I wanted to express these feelings here because I know someone else out there must be feeling this way, and is probably feeling selfish and terrible sometimes like I do. I am so incredibly sad and worried for everyone who is negatively affected by this pandemic, but I have been blessed with the ability to sit down, breathe, think about things that need thinking about, and come into more communion with myself and my needs/wants. I hope that people can take away some peace from this time spent apart from others.
