Hidden Treasures

A corner of our living room became a bear cave for a couple of hours this afternoon.  This entails blankets, couches, dining room chairs, toys, and food (bears need to eat).  I set up the blankets just right….after my 3 year old gave me instructions.  Then we made a bed in the cave, complete with her favorite blanket.  Toys were then added, along with breakfast for the bear (a dinner roll, which she called a donut).

As I prepared dinner, I (Mama Bear) joined Elizabeth (Baby Bear) off and on.  She easily got into character.  Everything became something that it wasn’t.  We had to sleep and wake up (I wanted to sleep longer than 20 seconds) and eat breakfast together.

Why is it that children this age are able to so easily use their imaginations?  Why is it that I, as an adult, am afraid of messing up or being too silly  in character?  Is it the responsibilities that come with being an adult/parent?  Is it the experience of having to do things a certain way?  How long do our imaginations truly last?  How can I make mine last longer, if not infinitely?

There are these mountains just 5 hours away that hold hidden abodes.  There’s probably thousands, but we spent 4 days in the perfect one.  Two adults, one child, and one dog.  Away from the city and the day to day projects.  Away from time commitments and chores.  Into a log cabin with high ceilings, a porch to gaze at the mountains (with 2 rocking chairs and a swing), two bedrooms, high windows to allow the natural light in, etc.  Never mind that we had to drive through back to back traffic and gazillions of flashing signs, tourist attractions, and restaurants.  That’s not the scene for us.  Our hidden treasure the last few days was a little cabin in the mountains, giving our family a time to reconnect with one another and the beauty of the world.

What is a treasure?  Is it something that is expensive?  Rare?  Hard to find?  Is it tangible?  Can it be given away?  Is life full of hidden treasures waiting to be discovered?

My favorite place to look for treasures is the beach.  Although I did not see the ocean until I was in my mid-20s, I have fallen in love.  Some go to tan, surf, or swim.  I go to relax, read, and look for treasures, specifically seashells. 

I have never been a collector of much, but I will say seashells are “my thing.”  Maybe because they’re free.  Maybe because they’re part of nature.  Possibly because they represent an escape from daily life.  A chance to walk along the beach and notice the beauty surrounding me. 

My 3 1/2 year old daughter seems to be following in my footsteps.  We recently spent a week in Sanibel.  Though very hot and humid (a bit more than Cincinnati), we could be seen scouring the millions of shells for the perfect ones.  We had to be very selective, as we flew and could not pack many in our suitcase. 

Seashells….treasures….hidden…..hmmmm….