Vivid Childhood Dream Recollected

One of the most vivid and striking dreams I recall from my childhood was around the time my younger brother was born. I had turned five years old a few months before. 

In my dream, I was a WW2 era soldier along with a group or company that was trudging along a suburban street with houses on either side.

I realize we are walking along my street. In fact, I see my house where my mom is on the porch holding my little brother.

I frantically wave to them to warm them that this is a war zone and to seek cover.

Suddenly, a large artillery strike hits my house which explodes in a ball of flame and is utterly destroyed.

I am shocked and bereft.

Then I saw myself on the edge of a cliff overlooking a waterfall. In my anguish and utter despair, I let myself fall over the cliff as the waterfall rages.

Then I wake up.

Although it might seem obvious to the average person, It wasn’t until I recently related the dream to a co-worker over lunch that I realized the dream was my way of processing my feelings of being displaced by my baby brother who took the role of being the youngest of our family after I had been the youngest for five years up to that point.