When my oldest was about a year old I had an incredibly realistic nightmare. I dreamed she was walking along a pier, I was following her, and she fell off the end. I jumped in after. I could see her sinking further and further and I couldn't reach her. Finally she totally disappeared into the darkness of deep water. I sat straight up in bed screaming and cried and shook for at least a full minute. Scared the crap out of my then-wife. May not count since it wasn't real, but was still very terrifying.
So, maybe I should have included a little backstory as to why my nightmare was so frightening. Perhaps if you had the entire picture you might not have seen fit to make fun of me over it.
The nightmare was about my oldest. But she is not my first born. You see, my first born, a son, came into the world with Cornelia de Lange Syndrome. You should Google it. It's a fun read. In case you choose not to Google it, let's just say that CdLS is multiple and severe birth defects. He also had Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. Another fun read. In short, Hypoplastic Left Heart is a death sentence. So when he was just 17 days old I watched him die. I then drove his body to Cincinnati Children's Hospital so that any usable organs could be harvested. Three days later we had his funeral. If you choose to use this to write a new extra-funny comeback for you and Willy to laugh at, I'll go ahead and let you know that I cried at his funeral. I guess that makes me a girly-man too, don't it?!?! Ha ha ha, a snicker, and an LOL!
I feel I may have a bit of a unique perspective on just how precious a child can be. I lost one, and I cherish the two I have now more than I cherish my own life. Perhaps someday when you have a child of your own you'll know what I'm talking about. An amazing thing happens when you have a child and you discover that they are the most precious and important thing in your life, and will always be. Then you might see how having a nightmare about losing such a precious thing might frighten a person. If you do ever have a child I sincerely hope you never have to attend it's funeral and live with what I have lived with. I mean that. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. I also hope you never have a nightmare about losing a second child. I wouldn't wish that on anyone either. But mostly, I hope when you have a child it may soften your cold and callus heart just a bit so you no longer see other people's fright over anything involving their own children as a source for your "comedy".
Peace!
