A Dream Lesson

August 3, 2025 I had a dream last night that I met Led Zeppelin. All four members had a layover in Quebec City and were seated in a train station waiting room. I did not want to miss my opportunity to meet this beloved band, so I sat next to Robert Plant (current age), and to his left was Jimmy Page. John Paul Jones was reading a book, and John Bohnam was a ghostly silent shadow in the corner, but present.

My first thought was take a picture. So, I turn to Eric and ask him for my phone. He said he had to take out my SIM card and battery (remember those?) to get fixed. Oooooh, I was so mad. In my head I was like “now‽ you knew I would want a pic with…!” (irrational, but it was a dream). Then realizing I could not just take a pic, I said to Robert and Jimmy, “I have always dreamed of meeting you guys, and I told myself if I ever had the opportunity to meet any of you this is what I would ask.” Pause. Train station interruptions- (or snoring), I came back to the dream a moment later and repeated myself. The question I wanted to ask was, what are your thoughts, passions activities- outside the legendary band, you know, like what do you dream about? They said they don’t get that question and were happy to chat with me. We had a lovely lengthy conversation- (just between us).

Lesson of the dream I got is this: A reminder that on this I.School journey- to remember to put my phone down and simply enjoy the company of people. Be in the moments, more than not. Things I thought were important last year are not so important now. I thought of people I have lost. Empathy to those who have lost people recently- in fires, floods, wars. Perspectives change. I appreciated the dream. Who knows what is ahead.

I did wake up mad at Eric. Irrational, but dreams do impact our psyche I think. But because I had time to remember my dream. Process it, tell Eric about it and Oh! did we have a good laugh about it this morning!

And as always, my head goes to students. How in this upcoming school year, there will Not be much dream processing or remembering dreams at all. Alarms. Panic of being late to school, for example, dominates the psyche. It takes out time. Non refundable.

The further away I get from education, the clearer picture I get of. That IS the thing. Take time to shape kids into workers, not lazy dreamers. And from my end- the consequences are tragic.

Our time, memories, stories and dreams are the only things we really have that are our OWN.

So whose time is it? And what can we do about that?

Homework: keep your little I.School notebook next to your bed. Get some sleep and write down ANY little thought from your dreams. If you can’t remember, that is ok. It takes time to adjust to believing your own dreams matter. Which they do.

Start now, and by May, look back and see how your dreams change and are shaped.

Led Zeppelin II remains my favorite because it was my first record/ tape. Music shapes our minds- even decades after exposure.