the art of silence

I had a dream that I could not explain but the next night the dream took on a twist that shocked me and sent shivers up my spine.

I dreamed about having a tumour removed successfully from my brain.
I was at home following the operation and relaxing in my pjs.
My house was on a hill and a balcony atop one layer of the structure afforded a breathtaking view of the surrounds. I had gazed out over the water and through the trees on so many occasions that the impression became almost routine. I suppose that my absence for a few days had imposed another perspective. Regardless, this day as I stared out, the giant fir tree that towered above both me and the very highest peak of my house took on a lopsided appearance. Having been trimmed back on the road side, it seemed to lean away from the road and into the house. Still in my pjs, I shuffled down to the shed by the gatehouse and yarded the long handled pruning sheers, back up to the house and through it until I was stationed on the balcony once again.
Knowing how unsteady I was, I carefully lifted the heavy implement over the rail and leaned on it for balance, it took me a minute to secure the offending branch in the teeth of the sheer and, pulling back on the spring hinged handle, was able to neatly clip it away. PERFECT! I sighed...this was proof to me that I would be able to function normally after the operation. I dragged the tool, heavy now, back over the rail and laid it gingerly on the decking.
When I straighted up to gloat at the achievment, my stomach flipped and nausea over took me.
The tree, now recovered in shape, was floating above and moving away from me. Higher and higher into the sky it drove upward like a toy rocket, in a steady, slow, movement. Silently.
I reached for the phone still gazing at the tree as it grew smaller. I dialed Mum.
Mum yelled, "You idiot! You've cut the damned thing off at the ground!" I hung up the phone.
Went back to the balcony.

A hum began, louder and louder until I had to cover my ears as my eyes scanned the scene.
Again, my stomach flipped, for there, in front of me, lowering gracefully onto the road was THE SPACE SHUTTLE! This really was too much, but there it was. Huge and loud and rumbling and coming to a full silent halt.

I uncovered my ears and stared. I heard sirens. A truck came first and a tent was erected right there on the road.

As I stared at the Shuttle I saw that a figure was slumped over the steering wheel. I thought, I didn't even know the Shuttle had a steering wheel. The next thing the figure was being pulled from the craft and carted on an emergency gurney to the tent.

I shuffled to the door and down the long drive. I was still in my pj's and when I passed through the tent flap, I faced my neurosurgeon. He was already making the first drill into the man's skull. "Will he be o.k?"
The surgeon looked at me and smiled, "Oh yes, he is going to be just fine."

I shuffled back up the drive and into my house, I called Mum.

"You won't believe this," I said, breathless, "the Space Shuttle just landed on the road in front of my house!"

I heard her let out a breath of exasperation, "Well, where else should it land?... it had to land somewhere!"

"At the airport," I yelled, "where airplanes are supposed to land!"

"Oh, don't be so stupid!" there, she slammed the phone down in my ear.

At that, I woke up. I had a terrible headache. I read in my e-news that the space shuttle had landed successfully...no mention was made of anyone with a brain injury or ailment. There had been no sightings of rocketing trees either.