Sometimes our true desires manifest themselves in dreams. This occurred to me shortly after reading the local throw- away paper full of ads. One caught my eye right away. It was “Free Burmese Cat -10 month old male Burmese cat wants a home. He’s affectionate and playful with beautiful green eyes.” I almost felt like I knew this cat already.

My first reaction was so strong that I wondered if the person who had placed the ad was an expert copywriter. How could a simple ad like that elicit such a powerful yearning for this Burmese cat. I’d never even considered getting one before.

I had no real home to provide him with, as the place where I live had a no pets rule. But I could visualize how it would be to have my own home that fit my needs as well as a beautiful, green-eyed young tom cat. I figured I’d get him neutered if he wasn’t already, to keep him out of fights and protect our home. I knew he’d need a cat tree and scratching post.

I could almost feel the smooth softness of his fur, hear his contented purr and enjoy the warmth of his body cuddled up next to me. I imagined looking into his eyes and knowing that everything would be o.k. These images flashed through my mind.

I toyed with the idea of getting a second cat as a playmate. I planned to get a kitty harness so we could safely walk together. I was already creating all kinds of things in my dream.

Cats are loving and easy to care for. Husbands require more work. They are not quite as independent as kitties. That’s what led me to think of trading in my husband for a cat. The image came to me as I slept. But it was just a thought that made me laugh in my sleep. I never seriously considered it.

What I learned from this experience is how important it is to have the freedom to live where you want, to love who you want and to create your own life. So the real power of the dream was that it made me aware of what I want. And that I need to follow my dreams.

Both my husband and I are “cat people” and we love each other very much. I have no plans to trade him in. But if I were left without a husband, I just might consider getting a pussycat as a first priority.