In the apple orchard

Real life finds its way into our dreams.

I am on the small farm where I live with my parents -- who rarely set foot out of the big city when they were alive -- and my husband and my daughter.  Amy is about 11 in the dream, as she always is in my dreams.  We are in the garden.  My father is busy doing something that will take a little time.  On this warm summer day, he seems to be setting out a picnic for us all.

My mother says "Come and help me; I want to get something".  I follow her and Amy tags along.  We walk into a nearby orchard where my mother wants to pick some lovely big apples.  We are just starting to reach for the apples when I hear -- barely hear -- low growls coming from nearby. They grow louder.  I look around and see a huge lioness padding towards us through the trees.  I am terrified and not sure what to do.  Running would be a mistake.

Then, I spot my car, sitting near us in the orchard.  It's my old gold Datsun, circa the early 70s.  I think we can get into the car to be safe but I fear the doors are locked.  They usually are.  I pull at one rear door and it opens!  I shove Amy inside.  I run around to the other side, open a door and shove my mother inside.  I run around and pull open the driver's door and get in, slamming the door shut.

We are safe.  Now I hope for rescue before we suffocate.