The Jade Elephant

It was not after I published my poem, but after I wrote my poem, that it began. That was October 10th. Then that the elephant began stepping from the coral. The Coral Elephant had been haunting my dreams, for a week, when the dreams changed again.

It was October 17th. I was off work, that day. My electricity had been shut off. I was out of daytime minutes on my phone. All I had left were my night and weekend minutes. I was home, cleaning, and felt suddenly so tired. I had to stop what I was doing and lie down. I slept immediately.

I saw, again, Buddhist Dave placing the ring in my hand. I looked into the ring, and, as before, the Ahm from Dave's tattoo grew in the background, consuming all around it. It was like a wall. Only now, the symbol was electric-blue. It cast a soft glow around me. The face of the ring grew, as before. As before, the elephant began to press through the coral. Only, this time, when it stepped out, it wasn't a coral elephant. It was green jade. It ran toward me, raised its trunk, and trumpeted at me. I awoke from that dream with the sudden urge to call Lake Conroe Exxon. Unfortunately, my phone died, as the call was going through.

No electricity, so I had nowhere to plug it in. Later that afternoon, my ex-husband came by to pick up Sedona, so she could stay the night at their house. He collected my phone and charger, as well. But didn't return the phone to me, until the next night, after I got off work. That late at night, I knew no one would be at that Exxon. I thought on the dream and the sense of urgency it had given me. I had trouble sleeping. Each time I would even begin to doze, I saw the Jade Elephant charging toward me, trunk raised, trumpeting at me.

The next morning, I sent a text message to my brother, to tell him about the dream, and the sense of urgency I'd felt. We texted back and forth, for a while. I had no daytime minutes, but had plenty of texts left. He decided to call down there for me on his phone.

He called me back the next night to inform me he'd spoken to Raj. It sounded to him like no one remembered who I was. Then he gave me another shock: Buddhist Dave was in Nepal.

My plan cycled on the 24th, and as soon as I paid my bill, I called down there, myself. I talked to Raj. He told me that Dave's grandfather had passed away, many months ago, and that they'd all gone to Nepal for a while. I realized, while talking to him, that they'd left for Nepal, at the time my first dreams began. In July. Raj had only just returned. He had started back to work at Lake Conroe Exxon on that past Saturday. The day the elephant turned jade. He told me Dave was sill in Nepal. Oddly, Raj didn't seem to realize who he was talking to. He thought I was the Melissa who'd worked there before me, and seemed angry that I'd wanted to get in touch with Dave. As I'd tried to remind him of the time frame I'd worked there, he seemed surprised. It never seemed to click with him who he was talking to.

I got off the phone, feeling an odd sense of loss. I felt I'd lost members of my family. Raj didn't remember me. The man who'd trained me and taught me everything I knew about that store. If he'd forgotten me, how many others had? I realized they'd have to see me in person to remember who I was. But I couldn't afford to make that journey again. And, still, the Jade Elephant tormented me in my dreams, rushing to me and trumpeting at me, like it wanted me to hurry. But I couldn't. I had no way to get down there. Not yet.

As before, with the Coral Elephant, I researched. More slowly, though, since I had to go elsewhere to access the internet. I knew that a Jade Elephant was more precious than a coral one. But only through my research did I learn what it was.

I stated earlier that the elephant is a sacred, celestial creature. And that coral is said to be worn by gods. But jade is even more precious. Green jade represents love, luck, hope, and action. Jade helps the wearer attune to the needs of others and inspires wisdom. It's considered the stone of love, because green is the color of the heart chakra. The color of the goddess of love, Venus. Jade is also the stone of inner peace, harmony, and balance. It embodies the virtues of wisdom, compassion, justice, and courage. It also symbolizes the female side of the erotic (Venus). The color green transforms the emotion of jealousy into the wisdom of accomplishment. Its body part is the head, symbolizing wisdom.

The Jade Elephant brings luck and good fortune, and the strength of wisdom, power, and success. He strengthens love and faithfulness between couples. He increases intelligence and dignity and protects the home.

And the Jade Elephant had come to me in my dreams. Rushing toward me, trumpeting at me, encouraging me to hurry. Instilling in me a sense of urgency. The Coral Elephant had represented Buddhist Dave himself, because it came forth from his ring. Now, though, that Coral Elephant had turned into a Jade Elephant.

I couldn't hurry, no matter how much the Jade One pushed me. So, he stopped rushing me. He stopped trumpeting at me. He simply began to come forward and watch me, as the Coral One had. Standing before me, studying me, with Dave's eyes.

Then he began to sing to me. Three 80s tunes: "Stay" by Madonna, "We Belong (Together)" by Pat Benatar, and "Listen to Your Heart" by Roxette. Songs that make me think of one begging someone not to leave. Or begging someone to return.

And, again, the Jade Elephant has changed. Now he wears the head of Ganesh, and still stares at me with the eyes of Buddhist Dave. Still, he sings me those songs in my dreams. The same three songs. Now, he sings with pain in his voice. With a sense of sadness.

The Elephant has yet to speak. But I wonder what he will say when he does speak? Where does he want me to return to? Montgomery? He still shows me the ring is important, for he still comes forth from the ring. Still, the Ahm glows electric-blue, in the background. What does he want of me?

I research and have learned the general meanings of the elephants in my dreams. Yet, I still cannot figure out what they are telling me, personally.

It all began, truly, the night Buddhist Dave took off his sacred ring, placing it in my hand. The night he showed me the ring. The first time I saw the Elephant in the Coral. I still don't know why Dave took off the ring he was never supposed to remove. I still don't know what I'm supposed to learn from the Coral Elephant or the Jade Elephant. Now, it wears the head of Ganesh, the Hindi god of wisdom and writing. But it still stares at me through Dave's eyes.

Still, I am confused. And still, I seek the answer.