--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was taking a nap in the theater one day…" description: "\"“I was taking a nap in the theater one day while I ditched English, when I looked up and saw Jess on the stage. I had to pinch myself, because I figure..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a6/carolee-dean-9964_dylan-dawson_i-was-taking-a-nap-in-the-theater-one-da_2844162.jpg" --- # I was taking a nap in the theater one day while I ditched… ![“I was taking a nap in the theater one day while I ditched English, when I looked up and saw Jess on the stage. I had to pinch myself, because I figured either I was dreaming or else I’d died and gone to heaven—which given my history was probably not where I’d end up.” quote by Carolee Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a6/carolee-dean-9964_dylan-dawson_i-was-taking-a-nap-in-the-theater-one-da_2844162.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a6/carolee-dean-9964_dylan-dawson_i-was-taking-a-nap-in-the-theater-one-da_2844162.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a6/carolee-dean-9964_dylan-dawson_i-was-taking-a-nap-in-the-theater-one-da_2844162.jpg) > ““I was taking a nap in the theater one day while I ditched English, when I looked up and saw Jess on the stage. I had to pinch myself, because I figured either I was dreaming or else I’d died and gone to heaven—which given my history was probably not where I’d end up.”” [Carolee Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolee-dean/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A surreal encounter felt like a dream, blurring life and afterlife. **In simple terms:** Pinching reality when faced with the uncanny. Key Takeaway Question reality when extraordinary occurs. Themes surrealism perception life after death Mood reflective curious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - theatre - spiritual experiences - creative writing Key Concepts existentialism psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate dream from reality? - What does this reveal about your beliefs? A Different Perspective May romanticize near‑death moments. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dylan-dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dylan-dawson/) [Gone to heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gone-to-heaven/) ## Related quotes > [A drunken man was dreaming that he died and reincarnated on earth as a chicken. He became heavy and tried to lay an egg!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-drunken-man-was-dreaming-that-he-died-and-reincarnated-on-earth-as/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If I had met Bette Midler, I wouldn't be answering these questions right now because I'd have spontaneously combusted and gone to heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-martin/if-i-had-met-bette-midler-i-wouldn-t-be-answering-these-questions/) [Mae Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-martin/) > [“For a moment i thought i had died and gone to heaven. Now i see that i am very much alive, and heaven has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-dermott/for-a-moment-i-thought-i-had-died-and-gone-to-heaven-now-i-see-that-i/) [Shannon Dermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-dermott/) > [“We love Christmas presents but not Christ; Easter baskets but not crosses. We want to tell our friends with cancer that we will pray…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-choate-davis/we-love-christmas-presents-but-not-christ-easter-baskets-but-not/) [Heather Choate Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-choate-davis/) > [I was on cloud nine. I could not believe that I would get to meet Richard Gere, Jennifer Lopez, Stanley Tucci and Susan Sarandon.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karina-smirnoff/i-was-on-cloud-nine-i-could-not-believe-that-i-would-get-to-meet/) [Karina Smirnoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karina-smirnoff/) > [“With one brow arched, and his smirk in place, he brings his hands up, and with two long, thick fingers, enters me with one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-sloan/with-one-brow-arched-and-his-smirk-in-place-he-brings-his-hands-up/) [Harper Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-sloan/) > [“Ugly and futile: lean neck and thick hair and a stain of ink, a snail’s bed. Yet someone had loved him, borne him in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/ugly-and-futile-lean-neck-and-thick-hair-and-a-stain-of-ink-a-snail-s/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [“I’m pretty sure I blacked out.  Hell, I might’ve died and gone to Heaven, had tea with Jesus, and then fallen back to earth. …](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-sloan/i-m-pretty-sure-i-blacked-out-hell-i-might-ve-died-and-gone-to-heaven/) [Harper Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-sloan/) > [“Elijah was vindicated then and there as being a true man of God. Not everybody gets vindication that soon. For some it takes years.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-t-kendall/elijah-was-vindicated-then-and-there-as-being-a-true-man-of-god-not/) [R. T. Kendall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-t-kendall/) > [“When he finally opened his eyes he saw her sit up and smile at him. She was beautiful, her dark hair was tousled, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-reyes/when-he-finally-opened-his-eyes-he-saw-her-sit-up-and-smile-at-him/) [Elizabeth Reyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-reyes/) > [I noticed I been spacing off quite a lot today... Most would say I'm unfocused and bored But I say this once and only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mrcountry/i-noticed-i-been-spacing-off-quite-a-lot-today-most-would-say-i-m/) MrCountry > [I thought I'd gone to heaven, because I grew up watching Roy and Gene Autry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-majors/i-thought-i-d-gone-to-heaven-because-i-grew-up-watching-roy-and-gene/) [Lee Majors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-majors/) > [Zach had rushed down to rescue me without remembering to put a shirt on...Maybe I had died and gone to heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-cabot/zach-had-rushed-down-to-rescue-me-without-remembering-to-put-a-shirt/) [Meg Cabot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-cabot/) > [“When a loving person dies, God sends angels to escort them on their journey to heaven. Angels are the messengers of God. They could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-storm/when-a-loving-person-dies-god-sends-angels-to-escort-them-on-their/) Howard Storm > [I’ve died and gone to heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-day/i-ve-died-and-gone-to-heaven/) [Sylvia Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-day/) ## More by Carolee Dean > [“Let me love you, girl who came from the sea. Let us swim to the bottom of the ocean where we can be anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolee-dean/let-me-love-you-girl-who-came-from-the-sea-let-us-swim-to-the-bottom/) [Carolee Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolee-dean/) > [“A man's beliefs are his destiny. As soon as my father believed his life was over, it was.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolee-dean/a-man-s-beliefs-are-his-destiny-as-soon-as-my-father-believed-his/) [Carolee Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolee-dean/) > [“As long as you're breathing, there's still hope.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolee-dean/as-long-as-you-re-breathing-there-s-still-hope/) [Carolee Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolee-dean/) > [“We are all rotting, making our way from womb to tomb, to the rhythm of the great clock counting downward to the grave.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolee-dean/we-are-all-rotting-making-our-way-from-womb-to-tomb-to-the-rhythm-of/) [Carolee Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolee-dean/) > [“Is she worth all that pain?” he asked me, smiling. “Definitely,” I said, still reeling from the events of the day. “But I don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolee-dean/is-she-worth-all-that-pain-he-asked-me-smiling-definitely-i-said/) [Carolee Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolee-dean/) > [“I used to think that words and music could change the world, but look at the people who have made it. You see their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolee-dean/i-used-to-think-that-words-and-music-could-change-the-world-but-look/) [Carolee Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolee-dean/) > [“Are you a virgin?” I asked, “A virgin who’s gonna tear out my heart?” “Yes … no … wait.” She looked at me. “I’m…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolee-dean/are-you-a-virgin-i-asked-a-virgin-who-s-gonna-tear-out-my-heart-yes/) [Carolee Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolee-dean/) > [“Blood never forgets. It has a memory of an ancient path toward home.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolee-dean/blood-never-forgets-it-has-a-memory-of-an-ancient-path-toward-home/) [Carolee Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolee-dean/) > [“I hear my father's voice faintly, over the telephone, answering for me in a soft drawl. "He's my son." He reaches out his hand,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolee-dean/i-hear-my-father-s-voice-faintly-over-the-telephone-answering-for-me/) [Carolee Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolee-dean/) > [“It brings back a long-forgotten memory of Christmas, the year I turned six. I was supposed to be in bed, but I was up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolee-dean/it-brings-back-a-long-forgotten-memory-of-christmas-the-year-i-turned/) [Carolee Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolee-dean/) > [“How badly i needed to see what was in my head o the page. even if i could barely read it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolee-dean/how-badly-i-needed-to-see-what-was-in-my-head-o-the-page-even-if-i/) [Carolee Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolee-dean/) > [“It was then that i understood what i had to do. i had to find a way to warn you. They have built a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolee-dean/it-was-then-that-i-understood-what-i-had-to-do-i-had-to-find-a-way-to/) [Carolee Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolee-dean/) > [“The mind can only remember what it's willing to remember - because if you are guilty, then the truth is not the thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolee-dean/the-mind-can-only-remember-what-it-s-willing-to-remember-because-if/) [Carolee Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolee-dean/) > [“But thinkin’ you owe people is dangerous business.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolee-dean/but-thinkin-you-owe-people-is-dangerous-business/) [Carolee Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolee-dean/) > [“Where we goin’?” Wade whispers to me as we approach the white picket fence that surrounds the row of wooden crosses. For all I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolee-dean/where-we-goin-wade-whispers-to-me-as-we-approach-the-white-picket/) [Carolee Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolee-dean/) [Explore all 69 Carolee Dean quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolee-dean/) ## More Dylan-dawson quotes > [“We are all rotting, making our way from womb to tomb, to the rhythm of the great clock counting downward to the grave.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolee-dean/we-are-all-rotting-making-our-way-from-womb-to-tomb-to-the-rhythm-of/) [Carolee Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolee-dean/) > [“Is she worth all that pain?” he asked me, smiling. “Definitely,” I said, still reeling from the events of the day. “But I don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolee-dean/is-she-worth-all-that-pain-he-asked-me-smiling-definitely-i-said/) [Carolee Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolee-dean/) > [“I used to think that words and music could change the world, but look at the people who have made it. You see their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolee-dean/i-used-to-think-that-words-and-music-could-change-the-world-but-look/) [Carolee Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolee-dean/) > [“Are you a virgin?” I asked, “A virgin who’s gonna tear out my heart?” “Yes … no … wait.” She looked at me. “I’m…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolee-dean/are-you-a-virgin-i-asked-a-virgin-who-s-gonna-tear-out-my-heart-yes/) [Carolee Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolee-dean/) > [“It brings back a long-forgotten memory of Christmas, the year I turned six. I was supposed to be in bed, but I was up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolee-dean/it-brings-back-a-long-forgotten-memory-of-christmas-the-year-i-turned/) [Carolee Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolee-dean/) > [“But thinkin’ you owe people is dangerous business.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolee-dean/but-thinkin-you-owe-people-is-dangerous-business/) [Carolee Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolee-dean/) > [“Where we goin’?” Wade whispers to me as we approach the white picket fence that surrounds the row of wooden crosses. For all I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolee-dean/where-we-goin-wade-whispers-to-me-as-we-approach-the-white-picket/) [Carolee Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolee-dean/) > [“I have loved and been loved, thoroughly and deeply by good and decent people who believed in me. Who let me dare to believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolee-dean/i-have-loved-and-been-loved-thoroughly-and-deeply-by-good-and-decent/) [Carolee Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolee-dean/) > [“So quit asking everybody else questions, unless you’re ready to answer some questions yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolee-dean/so-quit-asking-everybody-else-questions-unless-you-re-ready-to-answer/) [Carolee Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolee-dean/) > [“As soon as I left one town, I was in another, each one a totally different world, as if an invisible box surrounded its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolee-dean/as-soon-as-i-left-one-town-i-was-in-another-each-one-a-totally/) [Carolee Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolee-dean/) > [“Words are like people, I think. Put too many of them too close together and they cause trouble.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolee-dean/words-are-like-people-i-think-put-too-many-of-them-too-close-together/) [Carolee Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolee-dean/) > [“How do you know where a story begins?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolee-dean/how-do-you-know-where-a-story-begins/) [Carolee Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolee-dean/) > [“We sit in silence, all the unanswered and unasked questions thicker than the wall of glass between us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolee-dean/we-sit-in-silence-all-the-unanswered-and-unasked-questions-thicker/) [Carolee Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolee-dean/) > [“What happened?” “I tried to be somebody different from who I am and it didn’t work out.” “The world ain’t set up that way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolee-dean/what-happened-i-tried-to-be-somebody-different-from-who-i-am-and-it/) [Carolee Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolee-dean/) > [“I have a class in Hermosa Beach that starts at eight, but …” I wanted to offer to pick up her car, drive her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolee-dean/i-have-a-class-in-hermosa-beach-that-starts-at-eight-but-i-wanted-to/) [Carolee Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolee-dean/) [Browse all 36 Dylan-dawson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dylan-dawson/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I was taking a nap in the theater one day while I ditched English, when I looked up and saw Jess on the stage. 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