A few years back, I spoke to a Christian women’s event at a large church on the subject, “Dare to Dream”. It was a success; the ladies seemed to relate and understand the importance of dreaming.
I’m a dreamer and have always been a dreamer. My earliest dream that I can remember was to be a:
1. Lovely Indian Maiden. Dressing the part was very important in all my dreaming. I put together an outfit most closely matching what I saw the lovely Indian maidens wear in the cowboy movie at the Saturday morning Fun Club. I made a teepee by throwing a blanket over a ladder. For fun (short-lived) I would sit on the edge of the little pond in our backyard and make Indian pottery out of the mud. I slept alone in that teepee….at night……once. With every dream comes a Problem. I would wake up with very damp blankets and frizzy hair. I no longer looked like an Indian, especially a lovely one. NO fun. the closest I ever came to fulfilling this dream was in junior high. Back in the day, we were called Indians and had an annual Pow Wow out on the baseball field. I had the honor of being voted the “Indian Princess” by my class. My Mother made my outfit; I was truly lovely….at least I thought so.
2. U.S. Marshal. I wore my cowboy hat ( a perfect Christmas gift for a little Texas girl), a toy gun and holster, and a badge. I looked tough and cast fear into all my little friends. I would create play scenarios, eventually arrest each and every one, and lock them into a make-shift jail my parents let me put together. Problem: Soon there was no one left to play with or arrest. My playmates got tired of being arrested and went home.
3. Housewife and Mother. My Father and Grandfather built a playhouse in our backyard for my sister and me. It was wonderful; it had a main room, a loft with a ladder, and a kitchen with a wood-burning fire stove. It even had “running water”. Daddy hung a bucket outside the kitchen and ran a rubber tube through to the kitchen sink. All I had to do was siphon the water from the bucket into my kitchen….until one day an awful looking bug came through the tube along with the water.
I caught minnows from our little pond and fried them over that slow fire…too soggy or gross to eat. I had girlfriends over for sleepovers in my playhouse. I remember one night being awakened by a very strange noise and discovered it was coming from some kind of BIG bird walking right past the door to my playhouse, making a scary noise. I never knew what it was but the sound of the playhouse door slamming scared it away. Now I realize it was probably the hoot owl that lived in our woods.
Problem: Scary noise and critters at night and too much work keeping the playhouse clean.
4. Famous Broadway Star. When the musical “South Pacific” came to my attention, I became convinced I was a natural for the part of Nellie Forbush. My parents let me take dance lessons and took me to see touring musicals. Problem: I was told I would have to move to New York to pursue this dream.
5. Artist. My Father was a professional illustrator and a fine art painter. He gave me private lessons and helped me get my first job in an art studio as a teenager. I thought this would stick and it has for many years….but I’m still dreaming.
Langston Hughes wrote:
“Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams, for when dreams go, life is a barren field, frozen with snow.” ____from Dreams
Paul, the great Apostle of Jesus Christ wrote:
“ Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us,
he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.“
____________Ephesians 3:20 The Holy Bible
I love your way with words, Adele, and your vivid memories. I guess that is quite appropriate for an artist!
Thanks, Donna. I guess a good memory will help me write frivolous blogs for a long time to come. I love to write…even silly stuff.
Such great stories from your childhood. Also, the bible is profound and sets everything in place for believers.
Yes, Karen, God’s Word has the perfect way to state things.
Loved this Adele!
Thanks, Sheila. I revisited this subject because I have so many new subscribers.
Dream oh, my friend.
Thanks, Barbara. I can’t stop dreaming….it’s just how I am.