I gently open the small brown paper package that UPS had delivered earlier in the day. It was littered with "Forever USA" stamps (with pics of the cutest little otters playfully looking to escape their two-dimensional world, emblazoned on the tiny real estate) and tied together with a double-braided red and white cord. The large
FRAGILE - HANDLE WITH CARE
sticker taking pride of place in the centre. On the back...in small neat writing, a simple message.
With love from Dreems
I had received a DM the day before, warning of its impending arrival. I was to open it just before bedtime, but I was also given strict instructions to actually go to bed at a sensible time...like Dreems didn't kid about...she was really specific lol.
Tomorrow night, go to bed at 8 o'clock Sam! And then open the package that you will have received during the day from UPS.
So much mystery... but when it comes to Dreems, you just go with the flow hee hee.
Anyway, so I'm in my 'jimber jambers' (PJs), sitting up in bed, lights dimmed, and actually feeling a little tired. I peel back the last layer of brown paper to reveal a little cardboard box. There's a note on the top:
turn off the lights, and open the box.
But Dreems...how am I supposed to see what I'm doing then? ... but you know...this is Dreems...and everything happens for a reason... so I flick the light switch and open the box up, carefully...very carefully...I'm going in blind here remember! I gently pull out what appears to be a jar....ooooh could she have sent over some Cali marmalade from one of those awesome markets that she frequents? I'm holding it in my hands and it feels a bit too light to be filled with...anything much really! Truth be told.
My eyes start to acclimatise to the darkness of the room. I turn it over in my hands, from what I can see, it appears to be an empty jar with a little pretty lid. Mmmm...clever...a money jar! She's a genius that Dreems. I'm gonna need one of these for my post-covid travels!
I smile...and set it down beside me on my pillow, slide down under the covers, and yawn. I think... maybe it was a clever ruse to get me to sleep early for a change hee hee...and it's working.
I'm just closing my eyes when I see it......a movement...no a little speck of light ... in the jar ...and then a few more ... and they start to move and the jar is aglow....and has this wonderful aura around it....no wait! whaaaat? Are those fire....?
My eyes open.
I'm staring up at a big bright blue sky. I blink a few times. Not a cloud in sight. I squint, one eye open, into the brightness of the sun, soaking everything beneath it with its radiance and warmth. Am I dreaming? I roll over and see that I am not alone. I am no longer in my pyjamas and there are a couple of others here too, also just starting to sit up, looking as bewildered as I feel...and then we hear giggling coming from behind us...and the most cheerful, delightful, familiar voice...with the unmistakable American accent.
Hiyeeee
As one, we turn around to see Dreems doubled over, tears flying from her face. She's hugging herself tightly as her laughter undulates from within. Apparently, bewildered foreigners who find themselves at one moment in their beds at home and the next lying down in the long grass on a Central Californian mountain top, are fair game for amusement.
We all start talking over each other...
Where are we?
I was just in bed...
Woah!!!
Hey, you're on my mountain, of course, you sillies hee hee
Dreems replies, clearly enjoying this way too much.
But how...?
hehehe, plenty of time for questions and answers later, but ...you must all be famished...and so...now we eat!
And with that, Dreems leads us up the path towards her lovely home on the mountain top where a lunchtime platter of fresh foods and delights beckons, with vegan gluten-free options (cos that's how we roll these days!), and accompanied by wonderfully refreshing juices, and a cheeky and chilled Californian sparkling wine.
Of course, we could chat 'til the cows come home...the conversation flows and we laugh ...oh so much...what we all want to know though is how on Earth did we all end up in California?
Dreems confides that she had found herself one day drawn into that very world that she had created as an author where fireflies transport her characters to other worlds, filled with magical creativity and connection. Once there, she had learned, like her characters, to borrow the energy around her, to use it as a palette to create her own beauty and add to the canvas that she was exploring. She had no idea that the magical worlds of which she wrote could actually be manifested and entered by the purity of her thought, the depth of her faith, and the love for her friends. It was then that she decided to create for each of us a glowing jar of fireflies, to transport those jars out of her unreal world into the real world, and then to send them out via UPS, around the globe, and using their created essence to guide us all across the oceans to her in America.
So am I really here, or not?
I ask rather tentatively.
To me you are really here, and that is all that matters.
comes the warm but emphatic reply.
Right, now let's go shopping!
I have you for a whole 7 days...sorry not sorry...hehehe and you guys did not bring luggage!
We all jump into an elite SUV that Dreems has hired for the duration of our stay in the US, and we head downtown to pick up a small selection of clothes from the local shops and boutiques. Luckily it's always sunny in California, so we don't need much.
That evening we take in a theatrical production at their local playhouse theatre, grab a light bite to eat, and then hit the sack early as we are all somewhat exhausted by the unexpected events of the day. Dreems has arranged a few nights stay in a cabin near to her own home and drops us all off before heading home herself to her family, urging us to get a good night's rest and be up bright and early to head out on a road trip with her. We wonder whether we should be letting our families back home know that we were safe and sound, but Dreems assures us that everything is under control.
Over the next few days, we explore the countryside around Badger, taking in some of Dreems' favourite markets in the process. I am ticking things off my bucket list left, right, and centre too!
I still cannot believe that Dreems lives in one of the most freakin' beautiful places on Earth. To be tucked within the majesty of the Sierras, in striking distance of the incredible Giant Redwoods at the Sequoia National Monument and then still to be less than an hours drive from the outer reaches of Yosemite. Mind blown. But I am so happy because we take in all of these natural wonders at a relaxed pace, immersing ourselves in nature's beauty, and the rest of the gang enjoy the experience too. It gives us all the chillout time that we so desperately need. No distractions, just the mountains, the forests, the National Park, and plenty of time for conversation and evolving friendship. Fresh air, open vistas. Pure Heaven on Earth.
We mix things up food-wise too, eating a range of home-cooked meals (everyone chipping in), impromptu picnics, and a couple of restaurants thrown in for good measure, because who wants to cook every night when you're on holiday, right? One evening Dreems even shows us all how to make her wonderful gluten-free dumplings which is super fun and we are like a bunch of crazy school kids in the kitchen haha although there might be the odd G&T or glass of vino fuelling us on 🤣And the dumplings are to die for!!!
On the 4th day we head out to LA. Dreems said we can't possibly come all this way and not see ...Disneyland! haha So we get up early and drive the 4 - 5 hours to LA and spend an entire day at Disney, just being grown-up kids, eating ice cream and Mickey-shaped cookies, drinking slushies, and taking on some of the rides. We even get our photo taken with Mickey Mouse! We are all so taken up in the hype and joy that each of us buys a souvenir at the Gift store. I buy a cute little Disney bag to keep my loose money in. Don't ask me how our purses transported with us across the miles...they just did, ok 😆 Then at the end of an exceptionally long day, after all is said and done, the parades have floated by and the fireworks have lit the night sky, we drive off to our Cosy Air B&B and go straight to bed, exhausted but content.
Day 6 we spend exploring downtown LA, taking in a few of the tourist sights, and heading up into the Hollywood Hills to see how the other 1% live (haha) and of course for a pic with the sign. The evening is spent eating out and then we all head back to the b&b to chat into the early hours, in the cosy lounge in front of the fireplace.
Day 7 we drive out to the coast and explore the beaches and the coastline, basking in some much-needed sunshine before heading back to Dreems' hometown.
We are only supposed to stay for 7 days but we all agree...1 last night wouldn't hurt hee hee and Dreems invites us to spend our last evening in a relaxed manner with her family.
She calls ahead to home to let them know of the last minute change to plans and rebooks the cabin again for us for a final night. When we arrive back in Badger, her family has prepped for a casual BBQ in the back garden. We sit down in the late afternoon sun and soak in the goodness and happiness that we are all feeling. The food is glorious (yes there is vegan food too! They don't let me starve haha) and the evening ends with us all sitting around the fire, laughing and sharing stories from the past 7 days.
Later whilst 
Dreems tells us that we will likely not be seeing her the next day and wishes us all a happy and safe return to our families, as we will be gone when she awakes. So with hugs all around, it is almost time to go our separate ways. She reminds us that our return ticket home is to be acquired in the same way in which we came.
your jars are waiting for you...
she adds warmly.
I open my eyes. The little jar is still sat nestled against my pillow, glowing, ethereal.
I feel quite disappointed for a moment. Has it all been but a dream? Or was it a Dreem dreem? Was none of it real? I feel something digging into my back and roll over to remove the culprit.
I almost shriek with delight! It's my cute little Disney bag from LA, and inside there is a photo of the 4 of us at Disneyland and a few dollar bills!
I smile ...I have no idea how, and even though I know deep down that it is important, for now, it does not matter. My trip was real.
EDIT:
Now this piece should have been in the story too! It was a little personal note I had made (to be expanded upon) and tucked into my brief for the trip and somehow managed to hide in plain sight as I pulled my story together. And I can't edit it into the body now as the story is long submitted and I have just woken up ...and it wouldn't be fair so I am just gonna leave it here for completeness ... as a clear edit....lol...because...I just can't leave it out.
My first thought on waking this morning was ... Eeek, I forgot about one of the most important things in my excitement of the journey (and my desperation to finish the story as I was getting soooo tired - 'way past my bedtime tired' hee hee). And that important thing was a desire to experience the beautiful community and Church that is at the centre of Dreems' family's life. I've mentioned it before in my writing; that I love to immerse myself into the local community when I travel; to really get a feel for what it would be like to live in the places that I visit. In her blogs, Dreems speaks of it with such love and affection, that I would want to include it in our little trip together ...and so on one of those days, my wish would be to accompany her to her Church service, and to meet and connect with a few of the people and experience some of the things that make up her world. I leave the details to Dreems to decide as she knows best. Whatever we do, I think we end up dropping it in between days 2-4 and sharing that day with the Redwoods ;-)
This was my entry (late again...and now even later! this tardiness has got to stop!!!😆) to the week 6 Dreemport Challenge and I used Ecency to enter.
