Two nights ago I dreamed that I was playing hacky sack with someone who looked like one of those Kung Foo masters you see in films, white beard and all. In my dream I could actually jump and hold my body motionless while waiting for the arrival of the oriental ball, then kick it to any desired location.
I was about to relate this dream to Jackie when we arose from our slumbers that next morning when she blurts out first, "I just had a crazy dream. Was in the back seat of a car giving birth to baby girl. At least the delivery was painless!" Since Jackie's dream trumped mine and because I wasn't quite sure how to explain Kung Foo hacky sack to her, I responded, "Wow, it would be tough to actually be a mom again at your age".
Through the years I have had variations of the suspend yourself in mid air dreams. It started when I was about 5 and found myself on top of what once was a giant sand dune at Tunnel Park. I leaped and descended rapidly until at just about two feet off the ground I again jumped, slowing myself enough for a soft landing. Immediately I awoke, finding myself laying on the floor next to my bed. Later on I would have the same type of jumping, falling and landing safely dreams, although not waking up floor bound.
I don't know if those dreams were some type of subconscious inspiration or not but in real life I became quite a good jumper. In high school my reach was 7'4" and from a standing start I could touch the 10'4" mark, a 36" vertical leap. My hands were not big enough to palm a basketball but from a running jump I could dunk a volleyball.
And volleyball was about my favorite thing. Although just playing intramural or family games and not having any of the proper bump and pass skills my daughters would later learn I could hit and block with the big boys. And I had something that was known as "hang time", the illusion that after I jumped up for a block there was actually a pause before my body would respond to gravity and descend.
Yes, those type of abilities are only discussed in hushed tones across a sweaty locker room bench between exhausted guys who have just been vanquished.
But also in real life jumping ability doesn't last forever. My oldest child was male and then four females, and I remarked one time to Jackie that I can't wait for the girls to have boy friends come over and we could play basketball. "What makes you think they would want to play would you?" she wisely responded.
Well, eventually they all got married, most to guys taller than me. One day I go out to the driveway hoop to play a little pick up with the son-in-laws and find that my vertical is now 2" and those guys can easily snare all the rebounds. And then hold the ball over their heads while encouraging me with "Is everything OK Dad?"
Lucky for me I can still shoot the 3. And now and then dream of suspending myself in mid air.
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