My insomnia is of the world-class variety, the kind that gets you qualified for the most selective treatment programs. This does not make me feel special. It is not like getting accepted to the Ivy League.
So sleeping, and the consequent dreaming, are just not a regular part of my life. But last night, I had an incredibly vivid dream. Really true to life.
In the dream, my car dies. There is no hope of resuscitation. I would like to get a Prius or some other environmentally-conscious vehicle. But I am completely broke.
My anonymous boyfriend — his face is actually pixelated in the dream, like on TV to protect the identity of the whistleblower — tells me he will come up with something. And he does. He brings to me an adorable but older vehicle. He brings to me a small delivery van. He brings to me a German car.
Now, you should know that my practice of Judaism tends to be more in line with the spirit of the law and not so much the letter. And my priorities, they are not terribly logical, even by my standards. I make no judgment, but there are some traditions I would never violate. I would never eat of the pig. I would never tattoo on my body. And I would never drive a German car.
Anyway, back to the dream. I tell the boyfriend that I would not drive a German car. I am thinking that I must have told him this before, probably many times, but even if I didn’t mention, he really should just know. I tell him we have to take it back.
I instruct him to get behind the wheel. Just sitting in the passenger seat is bad enough. OK, we go in the car and make the beeline. Right into the telephone pole. I am sure we deserve this fate. I mean, what were we thinking? Driving a German car?
He asks me to wait while he goes to the nearby service station. So I stand beside the car in the heart of downtown, where you always bump with the people you know. I try to hide behind the car. All I can think is G-d forbid somebody sees me by the Hitlermobile.
Let’s face it, I have some real problems in my dream. My bank account has no money. My boyfriend has no face. My car has no insurance. But my biggest concern? That someone should think I am not a good Jew. And then it starts to rain.
This morning, I recount the dream to a friend who laughs heartily and tells me the dream reminds him an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm.
On the show, Larry and Jeff really like this Palestinian restaurant. But they know their Jewish friends would feel to eat there, it’s a terrible affront on Israel. And the place is next door a Jewish deli, so they worry someone should pass by and see them.
As for me, guess if you’re gonna live a sit-com life, you’re gonna dream a sit-com dream.
© 2017 Jaclyn Schrier. All rights reserved.
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