Okay, so last night was weird. Had that dream again, the one where I’m playing catcher in a baseball game. It’s funny, you know? I haven’t actually put on catcher’s gear since… well, a long, long time ago. High school maybe? But in the dream, it feels totally normal, almost second nature.
Putting on the Gear
I remember getting dressed. Pulling on the shin guards, feeling them strap tight against my legs. Then the chest protector, bulky but familiar. The mask was the weirdest part. That feeling of the bars in front of your face, the slightly muffled sound of everything. It’s heavy. You forget how heavy that gear is until you’re dreaming about it, apparently.
Then I walked out onto the field. It wasn’t a big league stadium or anything. More like a dusty local park field. No crowd, just the pitcher on the mound, and me. The sun felt warm, which is strange for a dream detail, but I remember it.
Behind the Plate
So, I got into the squat. Knees creaking, even in the dream. Felt that familiar position, glove ready. The pitcher started his wind-up. I focused on his release point, trying to anticipate the pitch. Just like old times, except it wasn’t.
The first pitch came in. Fastball, low and inside. I shifted, caught it right in the pocket. Felt that solid thud. Threw it back. Routine. Another pitch, curveball this time. Saw the spin, adjusted, snagged it. It felt… good. Simple. Just doing the job.
- Focus on the ball.
- Catch the ball.
- Throw the ball back.
- Signal for the next pitch.
That was the rhythm. Over and over. No batters, no runners, just me and the pitcher playing catch, essentially, but with all the intensity of a real game situation locked onto my shoulders. You’re the backstop, right? Everything stops with you. Gotta handle whatever comes your way, wild pitches, balls in the dirt, everything.
It wasn’t stressful, exactly, but it was demanding. Total concentration needed. Maybe that’s why I keep having it? Life feels like that sometimes. You’re just stuck there, trying to catch whatever curveballs get thrown, trying not to let anything get past you. You just gotta handle it.
Woke up this morning feeling like I’d actually been squatting for hours. My knees felt stiff. Crazy what your brain can convince your body of, isn’t it? Anyway, just wanted to get that down. Another night, another inning behind the plate in dreamland.
