dream

Last night I had a tornado dream. I have recurring tornado dreams, some would probably say they're stress-related. This one may be I-watched-Twister-on-cable-last-night-related. Anyway in this dream, I'm at some kind of outdoor street festival, associated with a college that I'm attending (I am eternally in college in my dreams). There are all kinds of strange things at the festival, and many odd people. I am eating with friends from UNCG, and it is getting late. I meet up with some people for work, I think we need to find some people to interview, or do some kind of research here. The festival is closing up, and it seems like time is running out, that we were trying to do something while at the festival, and we're going to miss our chance. A lady I know (can't remember who now) finds me some kind of food to eat. The streets are wet, and there's ice here and there. The people I'm with are annoyed because I keep stopping to try to do things (at one point I want to help some penguins in a park fountain, that are trapped in ice, as if in a snow globe. They don't seem to think it's as weird as I do). The weather takes a bad turn, and we see a giant funnel cloud ahead of us. It seems really far away, but I sense the danger. In a way, I'm relieved, because I don't have to worry about my deadline anymore, just the present emergency. My friend Ryon (who apparently has been with us) and I branch off from the crowd, who keep walking toward the building they were originally going to. We feel the danger is immediate, and look for the closest building to go to for safety. Ryon says, "in here!" and I follow him into the vestibule of some sort of performing arts building, which is made of glass and steel beams. I say, "I don't think this is exactly the safest choice," but Ryon isn't paying attention, because he's watching the storm. As we watch, the tornado strengthens and weakens, looking terrifying and on direct course to hit us one minute, and as if it's about to fade away at others. At one point it seems to separate into two, like it would in a bad tornado movie (see above) but then it swirls around strangely and it's hard to tell if it's really a tornado or a bizarre cloud formation. Finally Ryon says, "You need to go to your meeting. Sometimes you have to do what you said you would do." I'm like, "but the tornado!!" The tornado seems to be breaking up, but it's still hard to tell. Ryon says, "Those people are counting on you, and you can't walk away". I realize that I've made the storm worse than it is, in my mind, so I can avoid my responsibilities. I go into a nearby room, where people from MENC are rehearsing for some sort of play. They're all running around in these 19th century costumes. A few of them say, "oh Kim, thank God you're here, we can't get this song down, and no one remembers it." I haven't practiced singing the song they want to do, but I know the words, so I try to teach it to them. The song comes out of my mouth, and I hear it, almost as if I'm listening from somewhere else. It's not perfect, but better than I expect, and they're glad that I can teach it to them.