Carrie Link

B-T-S

Best acronym ever, B-T-S, Back-to-School, problem is, I'm the one having all the first day of school nightmares. What's with that? I am neither a student, nor a teacher returning to the classroom in September, like so many Septembers before, but the dreams are coming in fast and furiously.

First there was the one that I was going into sixth grade with my daughter, but I was the mother. I made it half a day before throwing down my books and announcing to the class and teacher, "You know, People, I don't have to be here. I've been in 6th grade, I've even taught 6th grade, and my daughter is supposed to be in 7th this year, so ha!"

Then there was the dream where I was in college, I knew I had a full schedule, but I could never remember what all my classes were, or where I was supposed to be going. Each day I skipped at least two classes because I just didn't know enough about them. Hmmmm...

Last night I couldn't find all the parts to my test, and all the staples kept coming out. I wrote my name on every page, but that took up so much time I didn't have time to finish the test, plus someone kept singing, and I couldn't concentrate, and I just kept re-reading the same question over and over.

I was also part of some college group last night, not sure what, a sorority? A commune? A co-op? I don't know, but I was supposed to clear all the tables and take the dishes to the kitchen. Everytime I picked up an empty plate, someone said, "Hey! I'm not done with that!" Wow.

So, I guess what these dreams all have in common is my neurosis, my sense that I don't know what's going on, nor do I know what I'm supposed to be doing about the whole thing. OK, now I get it, those weren't dreams, they are metaphors for my waking life!