POLYSOMNOGRAPHY 1

Upon recent and historical investigation of my dreams, I hypothesize that I am either (a) a lucid dreamer or (b) frequently visited by dream spirits that deposit relevant data into my mind. The first case of my sleep study is an incident that occurred Monday night.


FOOTNOTE: A Radiolab episode on stochasticity explains the method in which we tell stories to portray them as more coincidental than what they really are.

While sleeping, it's possible that I will put bread in the toaster, roam the balcony longingly or take a full shower. Almost always, I'm totally conscious that my body is performing the actions, but I can't separate the dream world from reality. Four o'clock in the morning means nothing. Time and context are irrelevant. But I remember having done the things, and not because I smell like Bronner's or there is toast on the counter. I remember standing with the pen in my hand on Monday night, having written the area code and first three digits of a phone number down, waiting for the last four digits. Waiting. I remember feeling expectant of something in the room to give me the last four digits, and when that something did, I wrote them down.

Now this number is written on a paper on my desk. I go back to bed. Or continue sleeping, or whatever.

Tuesday morning while doing the usual yoga I consider how much pain is in my neck. Arthritis? Stress? Tiny elves with knives? Whatever it is has been bothering me for the last couple of weeks and I can't find a solution. During yoga and the consideration of this terrible pain, I stand up and see the paper with the phone number. Oh yeah. I was a crazy person with a pen last night.

Curiosity strikes and I google the number.
234-6791 is the number to a Boston accupuncturist, Thai Massage and Accupuncture.

I vote to not chalk this case as a coincidental, random organization of numbers, but to either a communication with the universe--or my own dream capability to navigate reality more thoughtfully. We'll see.