Subconscious

I woke in a panic about 3am this morning, heart racing - it was the end of the world as we know it, as I had to get on the road, on foot, with my 10 year old son. No idea where the husband and 12 year old daughter were, but we had to try to find them.

My most pressing concern was what to pack - what did we need to survive? We had to be able to carry everything ourselves, and while we'd be able to get food from deserted houses and shops, we couldn't rely on electricity or other power sources. We might also have to defend ourselves from who knows what threats.

The dream was very vivid. So much so, that I spent the next hour or so wide awake, working through the packing list (the kids think I've completely lost the plot!). In my mind, I packed clothes, an extra pair of shoes each (there was much walking to be done), first aid supplies, matches, a self-sufficiency handbook, toothbrushes and toothpaste, knives (including two big kitchen knives, wrapped in towels), a can-opener, spoons, plastic cups, water bottles, muesli bars, torches and a supply of batteries, a couple of rolls of toilet paper (!), sleeping bags and winter coats (we might need to get through a cold winter without heating), and a photo of the missing family members. The boy was most pleased that I didn't take shampoo, but not so thrilled that I made him leave his Skylanders toys behind. There were a few other small items, but basically that was it. Interesting how you sort out priorities when the crunch comes.

So what did I take from this? Apart from reading too many apocalyptic books (there may have been zombies, but I'm not sure. There was definitely something threatening), there is very little that I'm so attached to that I couldn't leave it behind (children excepted!). And I need to start packing for the trip to England - although the knives and matches had better stay behind, and I can probably manage without taking my own can-opener and toilet paper!