Last night, I dreamt that I was stuck in my car and it was on fire. I was in the back seat and was holding my baby, although I have no children in real life. The fire was almost completely engulfing the car except for me and the baby. I turn away from the fire and can feel my back burning, but my primary concern is the baby. I couldn't open the doors, but just as we're about to burn up, I remember that the back window is built to be kicked out if necessary. So, I kick out the back window and got the baby out of the car, but I woke up (sweating) before I got out.

I have no idea what it all means, but here's what's been going on with me: I was just a bridesmaid (again) this last weekend and have kinda had the blues the last couple of days about my 27th birthday this week. I don't usually obsess about these kinds of things and it really bothers me that I have let it get me down. I am single and ALL of my friends are getting married. I made the decision yesterday to go for my MBA. So, please tell me Dream Doctor, did I burn up in the fire? What does it mean?

—Kimberly, Age 27, Single, Female, Houston, TX, USA

Hi Kimberly—

Judging by your dream, we have to ask if things aren't "getting warm" over there in Texas? All your girlfriends are getting married, and it appears that their nuptials are putting you in "the hotseat!"

Have you ever heard the expression, "the fire is getting hot?" Or, "everything is starting to heat up?" These are common expressions we use when people feel nervous and pressured. When someone gets really stressed, we worry if they'll "blow their top." We usually tell them to "cool down," and to "blow off some steam."

The fire in your dreams, accordingly, is a metaphor for the pressure you feel to catch up with your friends, all of whom are getting married, while you still are free and single. To make matters worse, your 27th birthday is approaching this week, which is a reminder that the clock still is ticking—and that you aren't getting any younger. After being a bridesmaid (again) at one of your friend's weddings, the pressure's so strong that you're treating this situation like a four alarm fire!

The baby in your dream most likely symbolizes your hopes for a future family. The car symbolizes the "direction you are headed" in your life. Your car, significantly, is missing its driver. (Where is Mr. Right when you need him?) Your location, "stuck" in the backseat, also suggests a position of powerlessness. Are you waiting for someone to come along and show you the way?

Just as the flames get unbearable, you suddenly realize that you do, indeed, have an exit plan. Is it possible that your recent decision to persue a Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA) is your new escape route? If you're not getting married in the next few years, it appears you have decided to make the most of your time!

Your dream shows the "heat" you feel to catch up with your friends and join the "newly married set," but your escape from the burning car—with baby in tow—shows that your dreams for the future are alive and well. Good luck in business school, where, we hope, romance also awaits you.