|
|
|
|
|
Last night I dreamt I was married to NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg. We were at some sort of dinner party with his family in an enormous, magnificent mansion and it just felt so... natural. He was sweet and affectionate and funny, though his children (all around my age) were not exactly thrilled with our union, which made me rather uneasy. At some point during the party, I suddenly remembered how extensively wealthy my husband was and was overtaken with euphoria.
What's odd about the dream is that I've never been attracted to men so much older than myself (+/-20 years). In fact, I tend to be repulsed by the idea, often making it very difficult to appreciate movies in which a woman close to my age falls for a man in his sixties. No matter how strong the chemistry, I just don't buy it. Helen Hunt and Jack Nicholson in As Good As it Gets? I don't buy it for a second. Gwyneth Paltrow and Michael Douglas in A Perfect Murder? Bleccch. Even real-life couples can't convince me that a young woman would want to marry (let alone sleep with) an artifact. Catherine-Zeta Jones = my age. Michael Douglas = my father's age. Yuck. True, we all know 60 is the new 40 and I'm sure Viagra -- along with his boatload of cash -- helps the matter tremendously. And hey, maybe she really does love the man. I just have a hard time imagining a young, beautiful woman waking up next to someone two decades older. Bright morning sunlight on the face can be exceptionally harsh (as Rod Stewart pointed out in Maggie May).
Still, last night's dream has forced me to rethink some things about myself. I don't recall feeling a strong sexual or physical attraction to my "husband," but I did have a sense of security I've rarely felt more than ephemerally in a romantic relationship. They say women look for men like their daddies; maybe this dream was trying to tell me I've spent too much time with men who act like my child instead of my father. As a husband, Bloomberg made me feel safe and protected, and not just for his billions (I'm sure he'd have had me sign a pre-nup). I can't quite put my finger on why the dream seems to resonate so deeply with me.
I'll consult some Freudian theories and get back to you.
Posted by ayelet at April 16, 2004 11:52 AMI'd just like to add one more couple to the list, Harrison Ford and whatsherface. I think that one is worth a mention.
Posted by: Erika at April 20, 2004 09:09 AMReady for some archair analysis?
Bloomberg represents a subconscious ideal to you-- maybe it is his openness and tolerance on issues such as gay rights (even if he is wishy-washy on gay marriage); Either way, you've never met the REAL Mike Bloomberg, so your impression of him is one that is built up by your subconscious mind.
His children did not acept you, and this reflects your feelings of self-worth. Maybe you find that you don't see eye to eye with people in your age range. Maybe they are more politically conservative and this distresses you.
Need I point out that Bloomberg is the Mayor of NYC, the city you just recently left behind? I know you loved the city but you also have expressed how it frazzled your brain for a spell.
I would guess that Bloomberg represents the NYC that you know is possible-- an exciting and tolerant place where the Melting Pot mentality truly shows its worth. His kids represent the reality of NYC-- shallow clock-watchers and narrow-minded Manhattan socialites who keep to their routines dilligently, afraid of taking any risk.
And at the end, you realize that the ideal of NYC is more important than the reality. The euphoria you feel in the dream is the knowledge that there is nothing wrong with you OR the city of New York. If anything, there's something wrong with some of the people who live there, who take for granted the fact that they live in a great American city.
Tell me if you think I'm right on or just full of shit... :)
As someone who dated someone over 15 years older than me for over a year, I can say, it happens, it happens frequently, and I "buy it". It's not for everyone, but who can explain attraction?
Posted by: jackie at April 16, 2004 10:11 PM