Dream underscores your love, concern for aunt

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 01/09/2022 (1495 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: I saw my dead auntie in a dream, and she told me to go see my elderly mom right away! I woke up deeply upset. I’m the youngest of the three sons and I love my mom a lot. I’d do anything for her! I booked off work, and drove out the very next morning. My mother was very glad to see me, but wondered why I drove three hours to see her.

I told her I had a dream and was suddenly worried about her. She said, “That’s very sweet and kind of funny.” Then she said she had some extra money to give somebody. “I told myself the first son who actually showed up here at my house not looking for a handout was going to get it,” she said. She handed me a fat sealed envelope.

I don’t know about angels, but I think I might have one up there. I wonder if Auntie told my brothers anything in their dreams. Ha! They don’t pay much attention to Mom anymore as they’re all caught up in their own lives — except when they need some money.

I’m not stupid enough to tell them what happened to me. I just thought you might be interested and maybe understand this dream. Do you?

— Youngest Son, southern Manitoba

Dear Youngest: You probably experienced a “vivid dream.” It feels like a real, live experience, and your mind may actually record it as a real event, not a dream. Sometimes it’s just the audio the dreamer remembers. A sleeping person can sometimes hear a recognizable voice in the room like a family member, close friend or sweetheart (past or present) — but there’s no visual dream.

Some sleep researchers say it’s actually your subconscious mind alerting you — like a wake-up call to something you’ve been ignoring. In your case, it could be your mom’s being alone and vulnerable to spongers within her own family. It’s good you cared enough to take a day off to drive to her, even though Auntie made no mention of a reward.

Sometimes older parents just hand off extra money to adult children, realizing they will never spend all they have. Or, your mom may have given some to your brothers recently, and wanted to even it up with you — the son who never asks her for money.

Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: I’m 14. I met a girl at my after-school job and we liked each other right away. We didn’t want to be seen by anybody at our job, so we started secretly meeting in the back seats at movies. Finally, we got spotted by a co-worker who came to the same movie alone, and he asked to sit with us.

We must have looked shocked, because he backed off, saying, “Oh, sorry. I didn’t know.” Now, he sees me at work and gives me the thumbs-up, like he’s cool with our secret. It’s starting to bug me, but I don’t know how to react.

— Secret Movies, Winnipeg

Dear Secret: Smile and give that guy two thumbs up right back! It’s much better than snubbing him; he’s done nothing wrong. In fact, he’s kept your relationship a secret for you.

Unless you’re enjoying keeping this girl a secret at work (and she likes it too) also consider this possibility: There’s a good chance your work mates already know about your romance, as sweethearts give each other special looks, and don’t even realize it.

Please send your questions and comments to lovecoach@hotmail.com or Miss Lonelyhearts c/o the Winnipeg Free Press, 1355 Mountain Ave., Winnipeg, MB, R2X 3B6.

Maureen Scurfield
Advice columnist

Maureen Scurfield writes the Miss Lonelyhearts advice column.

   Read full biography