The Laughing Wolf

Nightmares

Two things of late that I will share. First, there was a nightmare last night. Second, something brought back a vision of my death recently, and I wondered if any of you had ever had such and what your experiences have been.

The nightmare I think was the result of idiocies such as the recent “drug” suspension of the student who shared his asthma medication with his girlfriend when she had an attack at school; the lack of brain function exhibited by a superintendent and others in a recent case where a student was suspended for drawing a picture of soldiers killing Taliban members, not too surprising given that his father and other family members are soldiers (see Misha for details), the bureaucratic bungling that has kept firefighting equipment out of action in California (see Citizen Smash for details), and a host of other similar events (see A Small Victory for some additional details).

In the nightmare, I was taking part in the restaurant inspection from hell. I was being grilled by a health inspector who was hot and bothered by the fact that we could not prove that the steak seasoning mix was fresh and unadulterated since it both was not in an airtight container (bit hard to use) and not under 24/7 video surveillance. This was just one part of the raving and I was getting the restaurant in trouble because I dared ask questions, answered the bureaucrats questions, and challenged him on issues of science and practicality. Officialdom run amok. It was not the most pleasant part of last night. Why can’t I dream of starlets and such like normal guys?

The vision is one I first had years and years ago. In it, I am in a C-130 with the ramp down. We are low, less than 500 feet off the ground, and in the mountains. There is snow on the ground, a few rocks and a few evergreens. I and my team are ready to jump, no reserves as if the main doesn’t open there is no time for anything else. Somehow, I know the jump is not what kills me, but what comes later as we move in to deal with some bad guys and get some good guys out. This mission will be my last.

You know it is a dream or vision if for no other reason than that you are not freezing and you can hear, and those who have flown in a Herc will know what I mean. Interesting because I have never served my country in uniform. Also interesting in that there is no way I could do it now. Twenty years ago not a problem, but today it would be with knee and shoulder problems and being generally out of shape.

Anyone else ever had a clear vision of their death, and held it for more than 10 years?

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