All I Have To Do Is Dream

[Ranjr]

My uncle, who lived up and across the highway a bit, had an airplane.  He flew it with my sister and me so often that I didn't know it was out of the ordinary.  He took me to a doctor in the state capital when I was five.  The doctor said, "I hear you got here in a special way today."  I answered, "Yes, sir, we took a taxi!"  It was my first taxi ride from the airport.  I don't know if I remember the event itself or Aunt Nita telling and retelling the story.

I had a dream Uncle Doc was flying Mom and me back from Texarkana.  Before going to the airport, we flew over the farm.  As we would always do when we heard the plane fly over, my sister ran outside and waved.  Uncle Doc waved back by tilting the wings side to side.  I fell out of the plane, beginning a long descent.  I thought, this is going to hurt.  I'm going to die.  I landed in the tall grass near the pond.  Still awake but unable to feel my legs.  The plane flew away as if they hadn't noticed I was gone.  I tried to stand up but my legs wouldn't work.  I fought to use my legs or at least yell but my chest was too heavy.  I could only lie in the grass and watch the plane disappear.  It was an early brush with sleep paralysis.  I fought to wake up and did.  My legs tingled.  They were asleep.   

I don't know if I remember the actual dream or the many times I've thought about it.