My mom died in July 2009 however, in a dream yesterday, I went to mom‘s new apartment in Fairfax Square where we used to live. It was different than when we lived there. There was a restaurant sort of a pizza Italian place with a courtyard right outside of her apartment. The apartment was small. The bathroom was on the left. It had tiny, dark blue and white tiles on the walls. The sink was on the left and the shower straight ahead. I remember thinking to myself that’s cramped. It would be awkward using that bathroom. Then there was a large walk-in closet and I could see Mom’s clothes, less than she used to gave. Then, there was a living area with two futon sofas , there were lots of throw blankets and pillows. There was another bedroom in the back and I wanted to see the master bath, but I did not. I went out the back door and there was a lovely path, that was sort of winding through some trees. I saw a beautiful fountain in the center of a lake. I started using my phone to make a recording. I think for my friend Kevin who I haven’t seen in over a year. While I was recording the middle-aged woman ahead of me was walking very slowly and I sort of stopped talking because I didn’t want her hearing my conversation. I was trying to flip the camera on the phone back-and-forth to show myself as well as the fountain and the lake and how much Fairfax Square had changed. Suddenly, the woman ahead of me started doing several front handsprings to speed up and things were falling out of her pockets all over the place I can’t remember what the items were but a friend of her’s came up and she was saying, “I can’t believe she did this!” We were trying to pick some of the things up, coins, something teal green that I nudged with my foot because I didn’t know what it was. All the while my phone was recording. There was a lovely beach area along the side of the lake shortly before I got back to mom‘s apartment. I captured that as well, I was surprised I had missed it on the way out. l had to walk through the café and it was kind of dark. A waiter greeted me and I said I was heading back to the apartments. The back area where the apartment doors were was very dark, there was a faint golden hue of light. I was trying to find mom‘s door. The numbers were by the handles. I knew it was number six and I was trying to see , “Is this number 6, no that’s five, is this number six? Yes!” I made it back in. I told Mom, who is blonde in this dream and much younger than before she passed, that I could just stay here forever. This is so beautiful. I love your apartment, it’s so cozy. What a great place to live. I just love it here. I don’t like the café right outside. They can’t see you through the one way windows, but I can sort of see their shadows through the window. It’s kind of strange, although I guess it’s quiet in the colder months. I said I should probably be getting back even though, I had nowhere I had to be. I called for my dog to come. She was sleeping on one of the futons and I said, “Taffy come on Taffy,” and I realized I was thinking Lucky not Taffy. I said, “Oh silly me I said Taffy.” Taffy was my dog who died back in the 1980s. Lucky died last year in 2023. I picked up the small dog who was sleeping on the futon, and that’s the last recall.
Dreams involving deceased loved ones can be deeply emotional and often carry significant personal meaning. In your dream, several elements stand out that can be interpreted in various ways:
Visitation and Connection: Dreaming of your mother, especially in a familiar yet altered setting, can signify a desire to reconnect with her or to process your feelings about her passing. Her younger appearance may reflect your idealized memories of her or your wish to remember her as a vibrant presence in your life.
The Apartment: The new apartment could symbolize comfort and a sense of home. It appears that even though the place is different, you find it cozy and inviting. This suggests a longing for stability and nurturing, perhaps reflecting how you feel about your own life circumstances since her passing.
Elements of Change: The restaurant and courtyard outside could represent the changes and new experiences in your life or within the familial landscape since your mother passed away. You may be grappling with the idea of moving on, while also honoring the past.
Bathroom Space: The cramped bathroom could symbolize feelings of vulnerability or confinement in expressing your emotions. Bathrooms often relate to personal reflection and privacy, suggesting you may feel some discomfort in confronting your grief.
Recording for a Friend: The act of recording a message may indicate your desire to communicate or share cherished memories. This could point to your need for connection with others, perhaps as a means of bridging the gap left by the absence of your mother.
The Woman Doing Handsprings: The humorous and chaotic actions of the woman could represent the unexpected and sometimes overwhelming nature of your emotions. It might reflect how memories of your mother, and the past, are joyful yet sometimes chaotic.
Returning Home: Your journey back to the apartment symbolizes a return to familiarity and comfort. The act of counting the apartment numbers reflects a longing to anchor yourself in the past or a desire to find emotional clarity as you move forward.
Mention of Past Pets: The presence of your dogs—and the mix-up between their names—connects to themes of love, loss, and cherished memories. It could highlight how these memories intertwine with your feelings of grief. The reminder of Taffy, who passed long ago, alongside Lucky's recent death suggests a continuum of loss you’re processing.
Overall, this dream appears to be a poignant exploration of grief, connection, and the ways in which you interact with memories of your mother and past pets. It might reflect a blend of nostalgia, a longing for comfort, and an acknowledgement of change in your life, elegantly wrapped up in the dream's rich imagery and emotions.