"1940s Glass"

For my on-line Dream Journal

Recap of the Day: Thursday, July 31, 2014

Lunch with T. and R. in Yellow Cab across the office. We discussed plans for a Halloween event, among other exciting projects.

In the afternoon, Amy showed me new arrivals at the office souvenir shop, and pressed me to buy a set of six, exquisite, miniature tea cups. I asked her to reserve one set for me.

It was a rainy, windy day. I went home with my long umbrella again after a long, long time leaving it behind in the office.

Before sleeping I continued re-reading Ben Okri's In Arcadia. I have already decided to keep it in our holdings.


The Dream:

Title: "1940s Glass"

Part 1:

It is night-time. I am with Ning, the deceased aunt who raised me, and my elder sister Alice. We cross EDSA to shop for candleholders. Perhaps I should mention here that, in my dream city, I have an apartment on this other side of EDSA. It is possible that a dream buddy, or more than one dream buddy, actually lives in that area. We stop by this apartment but I have absolutely no recollection of this part of the dream.


Part 2:

In the next scene I am in a store that looks like the old Rustan's in Cubao. I come upon either a vase or a pitcher made of amber glass lightly coated with gold and painted with a white, palm-leaf design. It is of 1940s vintage; I know that I saw pieces like these in our ancestral house in San Fernando, Pampanga. I walk on, and then decide to walk back and take a second look at it. It is now, however, in the hands of a man who has decided to buy it, and I am disappointed.

A saleslady later comes up to me and asks me if I am still interested in the glass vessel. As it turns out, the man who wanted to buy it has discovered that he did not bring any money with him. I tell the saleslady that I will take the piece. She then shows me a second, identical, piece, and I decide to take that too. I tell myself that pairs are always useful. I find another 1940s glass piece, a humidor with folded legs, its lid with a rectangular indentation to serve as a bachelor's catch-all. It is made of pink, pressed glass. I consider buying that also. I then come upon drinking glasses, coffee cups, and saucers that match my two amber pieces.

In another section of the store I see more modern glass pieces. A white shelving system contains decorative bowls and vases. One of the vases on the top shelf has toppled over and rocks precariously on the rim of a big, crystal plate. It is violet and has the figures of grape bunches embossed round it. I point it out to a young saleslady, who makes a show of hitting the vase and allowing it to fall on the floor to demonstrate to me that it is shatterproof. The vase, alas, breaks into pieces on the white-linoleum floor. The saleslady is deflated. She sits on a riser and contemplates how much the vase cost and how much she will have to pay for it from her salary.


Part 3:

The last part of the dream is either set in the same store or in a hardware store. A boy arrives and tells me that he must go to Quiapo. I ask him how much he needs for transportation. He is undecided. I give him four 50-peso bills. He asks me to come with him so that I can buy candles and other things for our Halloween event. Since I have gone shopping already, I tell him that I must pass.


My Interpretation:

The dream warns me against overspending--not just in terms of money but in terms of my own time, my own talents, and my own resources.

Parts 1 and 2 are about buying material things. While it happens that I am able to buy most of the things I like, I tend to buy more than what I need. The vase that breaks, representing wasted libation and bacchanals, is the period that gives finality to this message.

Part 3 tells me that another opportunity to give too much of myself is coming up--the Halloween event--and that I must conserve my money, my talents, and my resources in order to not have to pass up on the things I like doing.

Upon further reflection I see that this dream is also about fragility and the need to appreciate and take care of fragile things, values, and characteristics. Glass is fragile. While it is common, it can also be rare and precious depending on how it is crafted and when it is antique.

Only with judicious care and good management can one preserve both antique and modern glass. Because, when it breaks, it can never be the same again.