...he would astound me with words that weren't only beyond his years, or beyond mine, but were beyond anyones's--beyond the kind of time that ticks away in this green and gray world.
Most kids have a special stuffed animal, ratty blanket or dog-eared book they take to sleep with them--and a lot of kids, lacking this talisman, go berserk and scream themselves to sleep. Bill Bob had no one special talisman: Bill Bob had dreefees. None of us ever quite figured out the etymology of that word, but when I asked him years later Bill Bob thought it might be an amalgamation of "dream" and "feed"--food for dreams you might say. The dreefee itself was always some carefully selected relic of the day's adventures, so he had a different dreefee every night. And every bit as important as the dreefee was its placement: some hung from the ceiling, some he stuffed in his mouth, some he taped to his hair and so on.
But if the placement was altered before Bill Bob fell asleep it had the same effect as having refused him his dreefee altogether. He didn't fuss, didn't protest, didn't seem to take notice: he simply didn't go to sleep. If the dreefee was never put back where it had been he would be in bed in the dark all night long--wide awake.
....excerpt from The River Why, a novel by David James Duncan,
I am not unlike Bill Bob and like those things in life to accompany in the day and in the night. I have many things that provide me that freedom to be free and to allow my creativity to roam. I have many dreefees. I have my "Hearty Companions" on my desk to help me work. I have a special rock that I carry for times I need soothing.
I have a special dreefee that keeps me company at night. It is a shawl that was blessed by Sri Karunamayi. I also have a "Peter Rabbit" that Christopher gave me that keeps me company by my bed. My night dreams are beautiful as I am in the company of dreefees.
My dreefees have emerged from those things of comfort and familiarity to those things that find me without touch but come to me through my love of Nature. The sky of blue and the sea of green are all my dreefees that wait for sleep. In wakefulness and in sleep, I am surrounded by my dreefees. I am loved and I love as all things become dear.
My Hearty Companions - A Dreefee for Me - Jeanean Gendron
We have a new car and David has named it Dreefee. It is a friend to us and it will protect us in our travels. It only seemed right to give our new friend his own Dreefee. After all, it is his namesake.
I like the idea of Dreefees both physical and those than can be touched. But I also love the ones that reside within my heart and in my most cherished memories. All those things that I choose to hold on to are Dreefees and I do love them dearly! Have a wonderful day and cherish the more "dreefee" things in life!
A Dreefee for Our Dreefee - Jeanean Gendron
Jeanean, What a great thought stimulator! How many dreefrees I have! some physical, some memories, some dreams, all familiar and dear. Thanks!
Marge, I've been trying to write this post for months. I am so glad to get it done and off "The List"! Hope your Sunday is just terrific! Always nice to have you visit!
Hi Jeanean. Ok, next post needs to be a picture of your new shiny car. There is nothing better than getting a new car.... Love the smell!!!!
Hello Belinda, well it is a used new car. We have bought several very expensive cars to drive off that lot and lose instant money. Now we shop for "killer" deals and feel much better about it all. We had to get a 4 wheel drive for snow county and our HUD listings. They give us 24 hours and come rain or snow, we have to get it done. We have a beautiful Expedition and he is emerald green. I always wanted a car that color. They are not quite as hard to keep as a black car....but some work. We like it very much and have named him a very auspicious name. Happy Sunday!
Loved this blog Jeanean, it really got me thinking! My daughters, of course, have their dreefrees - blanky & puppy for one and teddy for the other. It still amazes me to think about why they chose what they chose (of course teddy is the biggest teddy you can think of and has to travel everywhere ;-) I have an old dog-tag of my husband's that I carry around, a scarf from my grandma that I wear a lot and lots and lots of pictures. Memories make the most wonderful dreefrees! When hubby is gone, then my dreefrees is one of his shirts - it's the closest thing to being in his arms and there's no better comfort, is there?!
Andrea, of all the people in the whole wide world that would know this intimately....I am so NOT amazed that it is you. You get it on all levels and that gives me great joy. Thank you for sharing the celebration of those things that keep us safe and give us freedom. It starts small and moved to Big and Large and Unboundless! You are the sweetest to me!
Hi Jeanean, I came back to check and see what other great comments you might have gotten! I have to tell you that your words always make me happy - you just always have the right words at the right time and are always wonderful!
Andrea, thanks for coming back. It gave me a chance to reread it as well. It was in my head for months and I took the photo of the feather months ago but ended up using another photo that I took last week out at the new HUD listings. I resolved on that day to put my attention on this little story and get it told. I do love Dreefees and the book "The River Why". I am thinking to buy a copy and start sending it those special people that would enjoy reading. Another "Go-Giver" tradition. Giving it thought. Thank you for coming by again....I did enjoy reading it myself. Have a wonderful day!
I always appreciate your comments on my posts.
Dahlias at Brookside Gardens IMG_5919
Photograph by Roy Kelley
Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs