The Test Dream

Last night, I had another of my recurring exam dreams. I am wandering a long hallway in what appears to be a high school. I feel panic as I attempt to remember where my classroom is located. I finally arrive at the room to find everyone seated, prepared to take a final for which I have not studied. In fact, I don't recall ever attending this class or receiving the syllabus. And when I look down, I have forgotten to put on my clothes!

Thanks to the Internet, I was able to peruse a few dream interpretation sites where I found this to be in the top ten list of common dreams. Several interpretations revolve around low self-esteem or feeling anxious about being tested or scrutinized. Analyzing my feelings, I believe my dreams have more to do with feeling ill-prepared.

As a card-carrying member of the Right Side of the Brain Club, I have a drawer filled with Bar Mitzvah invitations, appointment cards, and the like. I have tried Outlook, Palm Pilots, the calendar on my phone, a desk top calendar, all to no avail. I have rifled through my drawer in search of a Bar Mitzvah invitation, convinced that we forgot to attend. Thank God for those reminder calls from the orthodontist's receptionist! I am always in search of a dog groomer, waxing person, and colorist who can schedule a last minute appointment. My wallet can't possibly hold more of those little appointment cards stating a 24 hour cancellation policy.

Living in the suburbs, I have friends who are Alpha Moms. I admire their organizational skills. These moms coordinate schedules, appointments, classes on their Blackberry's, buy school supplies a few years in advance, have probably scheduled their kids' dental appointments for the next 10 years. I, on the other hand, can't recall ordering my school supply kit and will most likely be at Target, praying they still carry compasses and protractors.

Which is not to say I am unable to multitask. I chair more than a few fundraisers and charity events each year, usually simultaneously. My kids' birthday parties are unparalleled.

However, I have no idea where my car is parked. I usually have two containers of baking powder, a few boxes of brown sugar, and a bunch of Teriyaki sauce in my fridge because I just couldn't recall if I have any at home. Holiday time, my fridge is filled with pounds of butter because you never know when you might need to bake five dozen cookies!

Each year, my new year's resolutions include finding some kind of organizational system which would work for me. I am open to suggestions! Scratch that. I am desperate for suggestions!

The advent of all these technologically advanced options is enticing. However, what happens if they all crash? I used to have a Palm Pilot but would forget to sync before the battery ran out. Since I have all my phone numbers on my Blackberry, I became quite panic stricken when the desktop icon disappeared. Thankfully, my daughter showed me how to search for names. I don't even own a hard copy address book. In planning my daughter's bat mitzvah, I purchased this nifty Mitzvah software which has a spreadsheet for addresses. I am proud of myself for having input the information!

Passwords, numbers, log-in names, appointments, invitations, deadlines. There is just far too much to remember. No wonder I keep having those pesky exam dreams. Now if only I could remember where I put my shopping list!