Campbell Soup Cans by Andy Warhol

When I was around six years old my family took a cruise to Alaska. The fond memories I have of staying up past 11 for the first time(!) to attend an ice sculpture show, learning how to fold napkins and cut fruit decoratively, being introduced to the game Mancala, and sleeping on a gnarly bunk bed are tainted by the fact that I had a recurring nightmare about our Cruise ship sinking every night.

I used to have nightmares a lot when I was younger. It always frustrated me that I could wake up from a nightmare, fall back asleep, and pick up right where that nightmare left off but could not do the same for my happy dreams.

My nightmares were mostly about natural disasters. I don't know if my nightmares were a result of my preoccupation with natural disaster safety protocols or if it was the other way around. I just remember taking earthquake drills really seriously in elementary school, begging my Mom to buy me an escape ladder in case of fire, and preparing a disaster kit with saltines, low sodium canned soup, peanut butter, and water.