So this morning, the dogs got up at 3:44 a.m. and absolutely had to go outside. Insistently. And when big dogs are insistent about going outside, I take them outside, no matter the time. Big dogs, you know, have big accidents.
Anyway. Back in the house and abed by 4, I despaired of falling asleep again, but I did. And had a dream.
I was back at the high school at which I taught English for 10 years and I was substituting for the college credit teacher who was taking some kind of leave. Quite a stickler she was and there were 5 preps, but I'd begun the first class, game as a pebble, when an earthquake struck and we had to hunker down in the hall for the rest of the day. Easy enough. The only problem was attendance because since she hadn't been there, the grade book had other kids' names in it. However, there were, of course, helpful kiddos and I got it all straightened out, but not in alphabetical order, which I would have to remedy.
When I got home, the neighbor's four young boys were playing with my kids in our living room. There were little truckle beds set up around the edge of the sofa and they had settled in quite nicely. I wondered aloud to the oldest what he and his brothers were doing there, and he told me that they were staying for the week while his mom and dad went to Barcelona.
Hmm. I looked out the front window, and sure enough, at the end of their driveway was a mountain of luggage and their mother piling the luggage and herself into a taxi. I hurried out to ask her what was happening and she told me that her husband had indeed purchased a week long cruise to Barcelona (??) for their 10th anniversary and would I just look after the boys. All 4 of them. Aged 11, 9, 5, and 3.
Fine, I told her, but I have to work this week teaching school and we'll have to find someone to watch them during the day. She gave me a slip of paper with a friend's number on it through the window of the cab as it drove off. In I went and fixed macaroni and cheese.
The next day, I taught the advanced high schoolers about Mary Shelly's Frankenstein and the Industrial Revolution. It was a very detailed lesson with journal questions (Just because you can accomplish something, should you do it?) and a brainstorming session on the white board. No earthquakes.
I didn't awake in a cold sweat ... I awoke wanting to go and substitute teach some literature lessons. Which I apparently miss. I also had in my head to fix a more nourishing dinner than mac and cheese. Maybe some kind of roast.
Husband thinks that the dream means that I don't think I'm accomplishing enough in my life and I should decide on some additional activity to which to apply myself. Like teaching again or taking classes. Hmm. Maybe.
Maybe my subconscious mind wishes for more children (fat chance!). Maybe it wants to teach English again.
Maybe the duck confit pasta with kalamata olives and tomatoes that I had for dinner last night at the Shaved Duck was too rich after all.
Maybe you don't think I'm crazy after all for substituting. Ha!! I win!
Posted by: Amanda | September 05, 2010 at 11:47 AM