The Travelling Bridge of Dreams | Relaxing Bedtime Story For Sleep

[00:00:11] Hello and welcome back to Sleep Wave. I'm your host, Carissa, and I am so glad you're here with us tonight. We have a cozy story to take us off to dreamland. This is our weekly free episode. If you've been enjoying the show, please consider becoming a subscriber. Subscribers get two bonus episodes a month plus totally ad-free listening. Learn more below your podcast player.

[00:00:35] In tonight's Sleepy Story, we're venturing over to a fantastical nighttime world where a magical bridge leads Clara to the most wondrous of destinations. There, she's able to explore the world and gain a new appreciation for her own home. Before we begin our only ad break, which helps make the show possible. To listen ad-free, follow the link in the show notes.

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[00:02:27] Every month, we publish a recipe on BonAppetit.com that introduces a baking concept we think you should know. Then you'll bake, send us any questions you have, and we'll get together here on the podcast to talk about the recipe. So consider this your official invitation. Come join the BA Bake Club. New episodes on the first Tuesday of every month, wherever you get your podcasts. Happy baking! There's something quietly remarkable about the stories people carry with them.

[00:02:55] The moments that changed everything, the situations nobody could have planned for. What was that like as a podcast built entirely around those moments? Each episode, a guest sits down and recounts a real experience. An unusual job, an unexpected encounter, a life turned briefly sideways. True stories told by the people who lived them, verified so even the most extraordinary ones you can trust.

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[00:04:31] Before we venture across this bridge with Clara, Let's relax. Start by noticing the surface beneath you and the way it holds your body. Let a little more of your weight settle into it. Now, notice each breath in and out.

[00:05:00] Feel yourself grow heavier. And just notice any worries and tension. Observe those feelings. And then let them float away slowly.

[00:05:25] They are gone as well. Clara had always wanted to travel the world. She lived in a small town, her home for 60 years. There was comfort in what she knew. And so she'd never gone far.

[00:05:55] Instead, she'd created a lovely life with her friends and her garden. Sometimes, she yearned to see more. She stood by the window in the mornings and imagined the world out there and all the brilliant sights and marvels. Sometimes, she tried to summon up the courage to take a trip.

[00:06:22] If she closed her eyes, she could picture it. She thought of waking up in cities where the air tasted different. She could see herself in train stations, listening to the comforting hum of other languages around her. But she had never taken the plunge and traveled far at all.

[00:06:49] Clara was simply quite unsure about taking a flight and going abroad. She thought that she couldn't possibly leave her closest companion. Her dog, Baxter. Baxter was an old Labrador. And he pottered around the house every day. He didn't need any long walks.

[00:07:14] But he enjoyed lying in the sun outside in the garden and getting lots of tickles behind his ears. Then there was the garden. Clara's cottage garden was her pride and joy. Each corner was shaped by years of patient attention rather than design. She'd planted roses and they climbed over weathered trellises.

[00:07:44] There was a worn stone path and lots of lavender. There were plenty of vegetables too. Beans twined through hollyhocks and neat rows of herbs. It was a place where every sense was evoked by fragrant smells.

[00:08:07] With many herbs to pick and taste and a whole host of bright colors. The garden was always changing as the seasons passed. And Clara was out there every day, rain or shine, potting up her cosmos or pruning her spectacular hydrangeas.

[00:08:34] She loved her garden and she loved her life. But the thought of traveling somewhere completely different never quite left her mind. She often considered it. And as she approached old age, she wished she'd had the courage to make her dreams come true. One night, something changed.

[00:09:04] There was something in the air. A heaviness and a faint shimmer. Clara's bedroom felt softer than usual. The edges of furniture blurred slightly. Clara had a sense that something magical was going to happen. And she wasn't scared at all. She just relaxed, getting all warm and cozy.

[00:09:33] She pulled her blanket high over her head and let herself sink into the mattress. All her muscles completely relaxed. Her arms felt heavy. And her legs. And her eyelids, too. She heard the comforting tick of her old grandfather clock in the corridor.

[00:10:07] And the ticking seemed to drift away. It didn't stop. But it just seemed to float further and further from Clara. It was as if she were drifting somewhere else entirely. She felt her eyes closing. Drifting into a dream. And everything faded.

[00:10:37] The slight blur. She snuggled down even more into the blankets. And then she slipped away into somewhere else warm and cozy. It was a big, warm living room. Outside there was a storm. And she could hear the wind whipping away. The rain poured down.

[00:11:07] And the drops splashing on the roof above her were very soothing. But she was inside. Warm and relaxed. She felt very at ease. And she looked around the room. The walls were covered with old, worn maps. Framed in wood everywhere.

[00:11:36] And when Clara went to open them up. She found they were all atlases. Filled with detailed drawings of lands from far away. She peered closely at the places. She couldn't work out if they were real. But it didn't seem to matter at all.

[00:12:00] She just let her eyes move across the blues of oceans and rivers. And the peaks of huge mountains. She didn't try to understand anything. She just let the images move through her mind. I waited in the room for how long she couldn't have said.

[00:12:28] And then a door appeared to the side. Slowly, it creaked open. The doorway framed a vast stretch of desert. The sky was a clear blue. And ahead, Clara could see sand dunes. She'd never been anywhere like this in her life.

[00:12:57] But to be there. This was what she'd craved. Somewhere completely different to her cottage in the countryside. Clara walked through the door and shut it gently behind her. She stepped out onto the sands. Looking down, she saw she was wearing a pair of shoes.

[00:13:24] But they were like no shoes she'd ever seen before. They were transparent. And they glistened like magical jelly shoes. She could feel the grains of sand through them. But at the same time, her feet were completely protected. The wind moved freely across the ground.

[00:13:54] And the sand lay in soft, uneven layers. Clara watched, fascinated by the heat that rose steadily from the surface. Blurring the horizon so it seemed to dissolve into the distance. It was warm on her face. Not too hot.

[00:14:24] But a very pleasant temperature. She looked up to see a man walking from the horizon towards her. He carried many bags on his back. Though he wasn't struggling at all. And he had a wide smile on his face. Eventually, he reached her.

[00:14:53] Clara knew instinctively that this man would be helpful. Where am I? Clara asked. And who are you? My name is the Dream Brewer. He said with a small bow. I make dreams for people. What do you mean? Clara asked. The Dream Brewer considered her question.

[00:15:21] Well, I simply use my abilities, my intuition to concoct something for them. But I also act as a tour guide when necessary. And tonight, it looks like you've been selected. What does that mean? Clara asked. Why me? Have you always dreamed of traveling the world? The Dream Brewer asked.

[00:15:49] Well, yes, I suppose I have. Clara said. Well, tonight, you will. The traveling bridge will appear and it will take you to see the most wondrous of things. I will be your guide. Are you ready? She trusted his guidance. Clara nodded. She felt excited but still relaxed.

[00:16:18] It was a lovely state. He nodded to her. This way, he said. A wooden bridge rose up in front of them. It had appeared from nowhere and it seemed to lead them up in the air, away from the desert. Clara smiled. She always thought there was something special about walking over a bridge.

[00:16:47] To exist not fully in one place and not fully in another. She stepped onto the bridge and held onto the rails on either side, feeling the cool metal against her hands. The Dream Brewer followed her. As she walked, she looked down.

[00:17:15] They were high in the sky, but a river snaked below them. She walked slowly and carefully, listening to the gentle flow of the water below. Clara felt ever so light, like she weighed nothing at all. Then, the rain started to fall with tiny drops on her shoulders.

[00:17:44] She felt very relaxed. All she thought about was each step. As she moved one foot in front of the other, tip-tap.

[00:18:06] When she reached the end of the bridge, she found herself in a place that was not unlike the desert she'd come from. The earth was covered in pale stone spires. She went across the dark, and she saw the river, and she could see valleys ahead. There were caves carved into the rock, too. And windows glowed faintly.

[00:18:37] It all looked so inviting. The Dream Brewer was there. Her trusty guide. Where am I? She asked him. You are in Cappadocia, he said. Now, Clara slowly lifted her head up, savoring the warmth on her skin from the sun above.

[00:19:06] It was full of color, hundreds of hot air balloons. She couldn't believe it, and she watched as they moved through the sky. Some glowed deep orange, some blush pink, and some were striped.

[00:19:35] Clara couldn't believe she was in Turkey. She had read about Cappadocia and seen pictures, but there was nothing like being there. It felt like far more than a dream, but there was a sparkling feel of magic to the whole scene.

[00:20:03] She looked across as a hot air balloon landed close to them, and she heard the soft hiss of a flame. Do you want to ride? The dream brewer asked her, but she felt uncertain. She turned back to the bridge. It seemed to be shimmering, tempting her away to somewhere else.

[00:20:33] Go, said the dream brewer. This is your time to do whatever you wish. Go explore the bridge. And Cappadocia began to fade away with each step.

[00:20:58] The light was soft and low, as if she were walking through a cloud. It wrapped around her, supporting her. With each step forward, the air shifted, and she noticed it was growing colder.

[00:21:22] The bridge stretched on, and the rails under her hands were cool. Then she felt something soft on her face. She looked up and marveled as snowflakes fell. One settled on her cheek, and another traced the edge of her eyelashes.

[00:21:54] Clara felt a sense of wonder as she moved. The bridge seemed to be pulling her forward. Every part of her felt relaxed and excited. And she'd found a good rhythm. One step, then another.

[00:22:18] More snowflakes gathered around her, drifting through the air. Some caught in her hair for a moment before dissolving. Clara reached the end of the bridge. And she looked out, but it was dark. The dream brewer was behind her.

[00:22:49] He'd followed her across the bridge. And he stood next to her. I think you'll enjoy this one, he said. Clara looked upwards with delight. At first, there was only a faint shimmer.

[00:23:18] And then it grew. The light flowed across the sky in long, drifting ribbons. There was blue and green. Violet and red. Clara stood still, watching and waiting. Above, the sky seemed to ripple.

[00:23:47] The colors thickened into glowing arcs. And as the two of them continued to look upward, the northern lights moved across the sky.

[00:24:04] Well, come in for a treat tonight, the dream brewer said, marveling at the light. The dream brewer had traveled all over the world and seen so much. But still, this sight took his breath away.

[00:24:32] Where are we? She had become used to the dark. And she realized she was standing at a shoreline. It looked like a large lake. And the waves lapped at the black sand. Clara pressed her feet down, feeling the sand move under her.

[00:25:00] You must have been craving something cold. We are in Iceland. And this, my dear, is a lagoon. The dream brewer said, the icebergs wash up on the black sand beach. It was truly magical.

[00:25:24] The icebergs stretched as far as the eye could see along the black beach. They were like shimmering diamonds. And the moon shone, making them glitter all the more. The ice was clear as glass.

[00:25:53] And other parts were clouded. The waves as they came in, bringing more and more of the icebergs. Standing there, Clara felt like time was softening around her. It was amazing.

[00:26:21] The dream brewer was delighted. He took notes with his pen. It was a spectacular scene. And he would certainly use it when he was concocting his dreams in the future. He could imagine many people would enjoy a dream set in this spectacular place.

[00:26:53] And ready for her next sight. The bridge appeared over the waters. It grew and stretched onwards across the lagoon. And she walked towards it. On the bridge, Clara felt that the surface under her shoes was slippery.

[00:27:23] But she had no fear of slipping. She knew the bridge would protect her. She walked and walked. The dream brewer alongside her. Until she found herself standing on the ground, looking up at a cascade of water. It was incredible.

[00:27:56] Her words trailed off. Yes, Niagara Falls. The dream brewer replied. I'm guessing we're here because it's somewhere you've always wanted to see. replied Clara. Always. She stood there looking at Niagara Falls. It was a vast white curtain of water.

[00:28:23] With a sound that was loud, but strangely soothing. A river listened and enjoyed the way the noise blocked out everything. She watched as mist rose in great drifting clouds. There were rainbows too. Flickering and then vanishing.

[00:28:55] She tilted her head upward and saw only some fragments of sky. And she felt so, so small. The waterfall's vastness made the world seem all the more exciting. The scale was impossible to conceive. But this was just a fleeting visit.

[00:29:25] Because the bridge was there again. The moon was there. Leading her away to her next destination. She didn't see it appear. But then it was there in front of her. Waiting patiently. A sense of easy relaxation came over her as she stepped onto the wood.

[00:29:52] Her shoes allowed her to feel the wood under her feet. As if she were barefoot. At first, the bridge's wood surface was hard and still a little slippery under her foot. But then it began to change. They were leaving the waterfall and the bridge was taking them elsewhere.

[00:30:20] And the air slowly grew warm. Then itch sent of damp earth. And below her feet, the bridge no longer felt brittle. The air was so heavy. Like a comforting hug.

[00:30:48] Every single place Clara was transported to felt welcoming. She had no fear at all. She stepped off the bridge. And the dream brewer fought around them. She saw enormous trees.

[00:31:13] Their trunks rose upwards, towering above Clara and the dream brewer. There were vines swinging through the humid air. And ferns crowded beneath them in soft, overlapping waves. And the dream brewer stood there looking around.

[00:31:40] She listened closely to the sounds. Distant dripping water. And she could hear wings fluttering somewhere. High in the canopy. High in the canopy.

[00:32:00] High in the canopy.

[00:32:35] High in the canopy. And then she stopped as she entered the clearing. The trees surrounded her. And there were butterflies. Thousands of them. All gathered. Covering stones and branches in moving color. They flew upwards.

[00:33:00] Lifting into the air together like drifting flower petals. Clara had always felt that the natural world carried a kind of quiet magic. And the traveling bridge was proving this to be true. Standing beneath Niagara Falls and hearing the tremendous roar.

[00:33:32] The beautiful butterflies. These things were strange and magical. A reminder that the world moved according to rhythms far beyond human control. They stood in the clearing. And Clara couldn't say how long they'd been there at all.

[00:34:02] Despite the beauty of the scene. For some reason, Clara thought of her garden at home. She turned and saw the bridge was there. Beckoning her. I think it's time to go back home. The dream brewer said. I have plenty of ideas.

[00:34:30] He tapped at his pockets which held his notepad. In it, he'd drawn some of the sights they'd seen. The beautiful hot air balloons floating above. The glimmering icebergs on the shore. And the rainforest in all its splendor. He'd watched Clara, too. Tried to describe her wonder.

[00:34:59] Hoping he could concoct some brilliant dreams. Thank you, Clara said. It's been wonderful. They stepped onto the bridge together. And this time, it forked into two. The dream brewer waved goodbye to Clara. And walked on to his own home.

[00:35:24] The bridge stretched out away from the rainforest. As Clara walked over it. She started to smell some familiar smells. Blossoms like the ones she'd planted that year. She walked on. Letting her feet fall softly.

[00:35:55] She held onto the sides of the bridge. Knowing with certainty from the smells where she was heading. She stepped off. And she was in her garden. It was a small garden filled with plants. And it looked like none of her flowers was out yet. She watched as it transformed.

[00:36:26] All the pale blossoms gathered along winding paths. And the air smelled fragrant. And was moving in front of her. And she watched as the seasons changed before her eyes. She took in the lavender plants that had suddenly emerged.

[00:36:51] And watched as bees drifted lazily between the flowers. There was a familiar sunlight pooling across her stone paths. Dancing on the old wooden bench she'd had since she was young. She watched as autumn arrived. And the garden softened into deeper colors.

[00:37:23] The leaves started to fall from the trees. And finally, snow began to fall. Settling on the hedges and her flowerbeds. Branches traced delicate patterns against the pale sky.

[00:37:51] Daxter's bed was there at the gate through it all. His favorite place to snooze. And she looked at the hedge where she liked to chat with her neighbor on sunny days. A firm sense of contentment at this. Her favorite place.

[00:38:24] The garden of the garden. She would be able to smell the roses. Potter around with Baxter behind her. And sit in the sun. Watching the world go by. The seasons would change. And time would pass. This was inevitable.

[00:38:51] And there was a deep comfort in this. The garden of the garden. Clara felt a little like she was floating as she walked inside her house. The night was over. The bridge had transported her. taking her around the world in a way that felt so gentle and comforting.

[00:39:20] She climbed into her bed, slowly pulling the covers up and savoring the warmth. The light dimmed. She could hear the soft tick of the grandfather clock.

[00:39:40] It was a comforting sound. She relaxed completely, and each breath felt slightly longer than the last. Her hands were open, and her arms were lovely and heavy.

[00:40:00] With each low inhale, her chest rose. And with each exhale, it softened into the bed. Her neck eased, and her jaw felt weightless. There were lovely layers of thick quilt, and

[00:40:26] she wrapped them tight around her. The sheets smelled faintly of lavender and fresh cotton. Side rain tapped gently against the windows, and she enjoyed the sound. It was comforting and repetitive.

[00:40:49] Tip-tap. Tip-tap. She was safe in a cocoon of warmth. Her whole body was still to held her, and her thoughts passed easily. She thought of all the places she'd seen that day,

[00:41:19] and all the beautiful sight. With her eyes closed, these places drifted through her consciousness. The brightness of the balloons. The brightness of the balloons. And the strangeness of the dark iceberg.

[00:41:42] She recalled the feeling of seeing Niagara Falls, and the beauty of the rainforest. She didn't focus on anything, or try to make the memories stay with her. She just let the images slide past,

[00:42:06] as if they were floating on a slow river in front of her. I felt a deep sense of satisfaction to be home. She would travel the world if she could. But that night, she also understood that there was nothing like her own bed,

[00:42:35] and her own lovely garden, and her own cozy little bedroom up in the eaves, with the crooked bookshelves, and creaking floorboards. The traveling bridge had come to her for a reason. To show her so many possibilities.

[00:43:04] She felt the pull of sleep begin at the edges of her awareness. And then she dozed off, carried away so gently.