Dreams *Can* Come True!

By Arabella

This story is so bizarre (bazaar?), I just have to share it with you.

We all have recurring dreams. Some are frightening, like the ones where we are being pursued by a monster, but can't run fast enough. Others are pleasant, where we are flying or floating.

But my favorite recurring dream is about a shopping trip! I've had this dream at least three times, and each time it becomes a little more real.

I'm out on one of my jaunts, checking out a new Middle Eastern grocery store that is unknown to me. I like to pick up the ethnic newspapers when I visit a Middle Eastern grocery store - this way I can learn about new ones. You never know what "extras" they might carry - I have found jewelry, kohl bottles, and kafiyahs, as well as belly dance cassettes and videos, at grocery stores. My best friend and I live by the words, "leave no stone unturned," and of course, we are constantly vying to outdo the other.

And so, in my dream, I have just finished the once-over at the new grocery store, but the store has nothing unusual and I'm rather disappointed. So I turn back with the intention of heading home, when a small twisting side street catches my eye, and since it's still early I decide to explore it. Like I said above, leave no stone unturned!

The street itself has only run-down little houses, but just as I've lost sight of the main road, a shopping mall appears. It has no signs or any indication of what kind of stores might be inside.

When I enter, I am amazed to discover that what I have found is a Middle Eastern bazaar, with many stalls selling everything Oriental that you could imagine! One has jewelry, another caftans, yet another rugs, and there is a large food area.

My dream ends with me wide-eyed and breathless at all the wonderful merchandise displayed - and determined to find that mall! The picture is so real that I'm convinced it really exists somewhere in Toronto, and that I just haven't looked hard enough.

Well, last Sunday, I decided to check out an Iranian flea market that I'd learned about in one of their newspapers. When I got there, I was astounded to find that it was just like my dream!

Yes, there was jewelry, both Iranian and Egyptian, there was clothing and rugs from Iran. There was a stall specializing in Iranian crafts, where I bought a brass lamp just like Aladdin's (no I haven't had the courage to rub it yet!) There were archways down the central aisle, and at the end a shrine covered in mirrors - just like the mihrab in a mosque. I met a lady who can make me a chador (sha-DOOR), the black cloak worn by Iranian women. And there was a food area, with a large Damascene fountain in the centre, and take-out stalls with names like Darvish and Bahar, and (my favourite) Kebabistan.

It would be corny to end this story by saying, "You see, dreams really can come true". But even as I write this, there's still a bit of doubt that it really happened. Guess I'll have to go back next week, just to make sure it's still there....

About the Author

Arabella, the author of this article, has contributed many informative pieces to this web site on a variety of topics, including:

• Analysis of technique for doing certain dance moves
• Costume ideas
• Essays and opinion pieces
• Understanding Middle Eastern music
• Helpful how-to's, such as remembering choreography

Please visit Arabella's home page on this web site for a full list of articles she has contributed.

Arabella began her dance studies with Russian Ballet classes. Frustrated by ballet's impossible ideals, and curious about more ethnic dance disciplines, she moved on to study various other dance forms. Moving further east each time, these included Spanish flamenco, Escuela Bolera, Middle Eastern, and East Indian Odissi. Arabella, based in Toronto, Canada, is also a certified Mastercraftsman in crewel embroidery, with a special passion for metal thread and ethnic embroidery. Currently she particularly focuses on Palestinian and East Indian embroidery.