Jasonisms

I don't normally have nightmares. Actually they're so rare that when I do I remember them. Vividly. I learned later that what I was having were designated night terrors , not mere nightmares. I used to get the terrors infrequently, every few months and experienced nearly every classical example of what people go through with when the terror strikes: immobilization, feeling awake, seeing a faceless figure standing over me, perhaps reaching for me, seeing a giant spider-like creature crawl across the roof or the floor coming towards me -- you know, the basics. When I was in my twenties I thought I'd beaten them. I gathered the strength to wake myself out of the night terror, usually with a scream (I will say I screamed in bravado and leave it at that) and rolling out of the bed and launching myself to the nearest light switch. I'd always be disoriented for a few minutes and when I finally realize what was going on, I'd crawl back in bed and go to sleep. I scared m...