Dreaming of work

Some coworkers were talking today about dreaming about work. One, after attending a rather lengthy city council meeting last evening, dreamed about the city council meeting all night. Another dreamed about laying out pages.

It doesn't make for a restful night when you can't escape from work. I know. I've dreamed about work before, too.

First, let me set the scene. I was working at the first newspaper that took a chance on me. I'd been sent to take pictures at a residential fire and was asked to make sure there were flames in the photos. Unfortunately, all I could see was a lot of smoke. I walked around, tried different angles, but there were no flames.

So that night, of course, I dreamed about work. A downtown building was on fire. I was sent to take pictures and told to get flames. So, off I went, camera in hand. When I got to the building, I couldn't see flames. I walked around said building, still nothing. So the fire department let me go inside - no bunker gear, no breathing apparatus, nothing to protect me from the flames.

As I walked through the door, I was sure I could get the pictures I needed quickly and be done. But no. I'd see flames licking around the walls in a room and head that way, but as soon as I walked through the door, the flames would vanish. I'd step out or turn away and the flames would return. It was like the fire knew what my assignment was and was just toying with me.

I don't know if I finally got flame pictures or not.

So what does it mean when we dream of work? Are we that concerned about doing a good job or getting the job done that we simply can't stop, even in our subconscious minds? Are we trying to get something right that we didn't get right earlier? Are we so addicted to or consumed by the job that we can't give it up? I don't know. I'm sure Freud would have a field day.

I just don't want to dream about it.