This morning I had a disturbing dream. I don’t usually remember my dreams, but this one was so disturbing, I thought it had really happened and only realized it was a dream when I was at the breakfast table in the middle of my third or fourth swallow of tea. In my dream I had…give me a minute, this is hard for me…I had (swallow)…I had run out of gas. In the dream I had just left my daughter’s house and was driving to who-knows-where, when I felt the car slowing down. I depressed the gas petal to the floor, and nada pasa. I pulled the car over to the side of the road and coasted to a stop. I was about to call AAA when my husband and son-in-law happened to be driving by, saw my car, and pulled over. My husband started to laugh when I told him what happened, but then he looked at my face and knew that was the wrong response.
“Totally my fault,” he said. “I know you kept reminding me to fill your car up, and I forgot.” At least he recognized his responsibility in this terrible event. He likes my cooking and he knows what side his bread is buttered on. Even in my dream.
Okay, stop shaking your heads, those of you who do not understand why this was such a disturbing dream. Maybe you are one of those people who wait until his warning light comes on before you fill up your tank. I, on the other hand, am one of those people who start to panic once the needle falls below the half-way mark.
I am like my mother in that regard. I do not want to run out of anything. When my mother died, my father found she had squirreled away about twenty rolls of plastic kitchen wrap. He didn’t have to buy any for several years. Nor did he have to buy paper towels, toilet paper, soap, and various other necessities. If you come to my house and you forgot your toothbrush, no worries. I’m sure to have one or two–or ten–extras. Same goes for toothpaste, deodorant, dental floss, soap, olive oil, and many other items, including plastic kitchen wrap. I am my mother’s daughter, after all.
One thing I do not stock up on, however, is food in the refrigerator. Open the refrigerator door these days, and there is not much there. I prefer to walk up to the market and buy whatever feels right for the day. Better yet, when my husband asks, “What’s for dinner?” I prefer to say, “Oh, look at that! The cupboard is bare. Guess we’ll have to go out and eat.” See, I can be practical sometimes.
Coming East 
I don’t think I’ve ever run out of gas. Hubby is good at keeping an eye on it, but I’ll stop and fill up if it gets to 1/4 tank. I don’t know how many times he’s told me it can burn up the fuel pump if it runs out.
LOL, Patti. I will never have to worry about burning out the fuel pump because my car rarely even gets as low as a quarter of a tank. Sounds like you have a sweet hubby.
There are so many ways this dream could be interpretated. I think your therapist was correct in seeing a fear of abandonment. Or maybe you are fearful of “running out of gas” yourself. Can you keep going on the road you have chosen? Will you lose control? This seems to be one of those “security” dreams that we all have from time to time.
Interesting analysis, Cuz!
The fridge thing? Well-played.
When I was a small child, I had an obsessive fear about my parents running out of gas. Any car trip anywhere (even to my grandparents’ house, three miles away) resulted in my constant pestering about whether we would run out of gas. A child therapist apparently determined that my fear was not about fuel, but rather that I would be left alone in the car while my parents went to get more. No idea where this came from, but it was clearly the correct diagnosis, because ever since I began driving I have run that tank dry before filling it again.
What a story, Cell! It’s amazing what children’s minds dwell on and what fears they suffer from. Poor babies! Glad they figured it out.
Definitely fuel for thought.
Clever, Al. I look forward to more of your humor.
I have never run out of gas and I can understand how you could have a nightmare about it. To be stranded, stopped who knows where? Yikes! I usually fill up but when Rick offers to do it after dinner sometimes–yes, a special trip– I am relieved to not have to deal with it.
A friend got into Melaleuca and in a way it’s a good thing…products come to my door monthly and I am never out of anything–cleaning products, detergent, toothpaste, to chapstick. In another way–I’m almost giving stuff away.
I’ve never heard of Melaleuca, Georgette. What is it? Direct sales?
I don’t like running out either but my fridge and larder are stashed up. 🙂
My pantry is usually fairly well-stocked, especially with nuts and dried fruit, but my fridge is another story, Eye.
Mm, nuts and dried fruit. My favourite snacks. Other than cheese! 🙂
I love cheese, but it’s not on Paleo, so I stopped eating it except on rare occasions. Believe it not, I’ve lost nearly five pounds and my husband has lost twelve, and I think not eating cheese (and bread, of course) has been a big part of that. But gosh, I miss it!
It’s the bread that affects me the most then sugary stuff. I don’t think I’d be strong enough to ever give up cheese. 😉
I miss bread more than cheese, Eye, especially my rye toast in the morning.
Euw, rye bread to me is that black stuff. I’ll pass! 🙂
I am a “warning light” person in the gas tank but i could usually easily survive if I were trapped in my house and couldn’t get to the grocery store for weeks.
Well, I do have plenty of beans and tuna, Carol, so I wouldn’t starve, but that would get old in a hurry.
I relate to the gas level. At half a tank, I want to see it full. Drives me crazy to see that light come on and blink at me, nagging me to feed the car! Great post today, thanks for the smile!
Thanks, DAF. I wouldn’t have this fear if I would just learn how to pump my own gas!
If you have someone who will pump the gas for you, why learn? I fought it for a long time, that is until he was deployed for 8 months and I knew a tank of gas wouldn’t last that long!
Yes, you sure had no choice, DAF! I made my husband promise not to die before me because I’d never be able to go anywhere with no gas.
As my dear hubby has often said, “Walking’s not crowded”. I won’t post my replies… I smile when I think of your posts, they bring joy to my life, thank you!
Love your husband’s comment, DAF, and thank you for yours. Made me smile!
Before cell phones, my fear was that I’d run out in some remote place and be stranded. I did run out once – across the street from a muffler place. Angry people honked behind me as I left my car in the middle of the busy street. I ran in and asked the Hell’s Angels who worked there if they happened to have any gas. A tough looking guy came out and poured some gas in my tank. (Here you go little lady). I came back the next day with a plate of Aunt Donna’s homemade brownies for them, and have not run out of gas since.
What a great story, HG! Shows you can’t judge people by how they look.
I like to stock up, too, and I used to worry about running out of gas. Then I got a car that told me how many miles I could drive on the gas remaining in my tank. Now I can wait for the warning light to come on since I know I could drive another 50 miles if I had to. I had no idea that small piece of information could relieve my anxiety.
My car does that, too, Shary, but I don’t trust it to be accurate. I think it’s a guesstimate, based on your fuel usage for the recent past, but if you get stuck in traffic, then what it estimated doesn’t hold up. It’s close, though, so you can feel relieved—within limits.
I’m sure you’re right and I don’t trust it completely. I used to be afraid that when the light came on I’d run out of gas in the next mile, though. It’s nice to know I can go a little farther than that. 🙂
Yes, Shary, at least it does that!
I have a fear of running out of gas, too. My Mom always waited until the last minute to fill up the tank. (I’ll have to ask her to see if she still does.) Once, on our way to Nova Scotia (the car loaded up and containing 5 kids), we did run out of gas right when we arrived at the gas station. That moment sealed it for me – I would always make sure I had gas. There are times when the fuel light comes on – but rest assured, my next stop is the gas station. Pronto!
I don’t think I’ve ever let the fuel light come on, LD, but it is a frequent occurrence in my husband’s car.
This one reminds me of myself. Running out of anything (except food) is my worst nightmare. Your post is “right on.” By the way, I have ended the Technicolor Day Dreams blog and am beginning anew with a different focus. I hope you will follow me at http://coutryliving4beginners.wordpress.com – at Dor’s Virginia Views! 🙂
Glad you can relate, Dor. I will absolutely follow your new blog. I need to change your name on my blog roll, too.