I Dreamed A Dream

I have waffled back and forth about writing another post on this particular subject but it is my opinion that this story has come to an end and so these next two posts are just my way of bringing this event to a close. I will explain why I think this at the end of the next post. I know this subject doesn't get many comments but that's okay because, as I said, this is kinda for me. But if you feel compelled to comment that's okay too. Now, I wrote a little about this once before and deleted it but this is the whole story here. I swear that these things are true and I'm not embellishing or making anything up either. I have never had the experience before of dreaming events that later happen, although I've read a lot about others, so I'm not normally a big believer of such things.
Soon after we started the railroad job, and after I had met the Switchman, I began to have very short, intense dreams about getting on one of the locomotives. The dream would only last what seemed a couple of seconds but I was very conscious of the colors and feelings involved. In the dream, I would find myself suddenly standing at the bottom of the steps that lead up to the cab on the engine. I was very aware of the bright, yellow handrails and the steepness of the steps leading upward as I climbed. I also somehow knew (you know how dreams are) that once I got to the top, the Switchman would be there.
I told a couple of my work buddies about the dreams all along and we laughed and all because we were strictly forbidden to get even near the trains, much less on one. But the day came when they brought the first locomotive into the building and we were invited to get on one of the trains. Now, at this point I had completely forgotten about the dreams, so that was not a motivation. A bunch of the big execs for the railroad were there for this event and so it seemed fine and I forgot my instructions. Of course, since the Switchman was going to be the tour guide, that might have also had something to do with it. So, with him behind me, I climbed the steps to the cab and days later when I remembered the dreams, realized it felt exactly as it had felt in the dream. Holding to the bright, yellow handrails going up the steep, narrow steps and then, after reaching the cab, realizing that the Switchman was indeed there with me.

About halfway through the job, but before the previous dream had actually happened, I was lying on the couch one evening after work. Allen was sitting there with me and I think was rubbing my feet. This makes me sleepy and I dozed slightly. Suddenly, a dream materialized and I was standing near the railroad tracks when two locomotives pulled up and stopped. The Switchman was on front and he climbed down the steps quickly, striding towards me. As he did, he reached out and spoke a greeting. This dream happened so quickly that it startled me and I jumped up on the couch. That made Allen jump also and he asked me what was wrong. I don't remember what I said but I think I just attributed it to restless legs or something.
So, the next day I was working on some forms near the tracks and two locomotives pulled up with the Switchman on front. He came down the steps quickly and turned towards me. As he strode forward, he reached out and smiled as he said hello. This time, the previous night's dream hit me and I was kind of flabbergasted for a minute. I know I stood gawking at him for a few seconds but this behavior was normal on my part so he probably didn't notice. This is the only one of the dreams that I don't think I told anyone about before it happened. This is also the only one of the dreams that happened exactly the way I dreamed it. It seems the shorter and faster the dream, the more accurate it is.

So, towards the end of the job, I had another dream but this time I dreamed I saw one of the locomotives jump the track. The dream was very quick, as they all were, and not much more than just that image. I told the guys because we were digging practically under one of the tracks and I was afraid it might be a premonition. Now, like I said, I normally don't subscribe to such things but the other dreams had gotten me to thinking. Fortunately, nothing happened and we finished the job. After being transferred though, I dreamed again that there was an accident and we had to go back to the job for repairs to the tracks near the old diesel shop. Several months later there was an accident when they were hitching two locomotives together and one jumped the track slightly and tore into part of a building, the old diesel shop. In the dream, I went back but did not see the Switchman; he was conspicuously missing. However, in reality, he was there and I was the one that did not get sent back.

The one thing all of these dreams had in common is that they happened very quickly. Basically just flashes of images and everyone, especially the Switchman, looked exactly like they look and dress in real life and colors are very prominent. When I normally dream about people I know (which isn't often) they usually don't look quite like they look in reality but you still know who they are. I have read many people dream this way.
Now, the thing is, there are three other dreams that I have had, in this exact same manner, since leaving the railroad, that have not yet happened. Despite being able to look at the whole thing with a practical mind, I can't help but wonder. Could these other dreams come true also? Reality says probably not, but then how can I explain the first ones that did?

to be continued....

*I started with another song title but while I was typing this post an interview with Susan Boyle (I'm sure you have heard of) came on TV and they played her dramatic version of this song. That title seemed better. Today I read the lyrics and saw just how appropriate some of the words were.