THE ROLLER COASTER RIDE

A series of essays.....

       quotesgram.com



.....as seen through my eyes!

 

By: Jacqueline E. Hughes


I always chide myself when it comes to being able to ride this roller coaster called life with dignity and grace.

It really isn't the fun filled ride we expected it to be when we were, considerably, younger. "I can't wait to grow up and be an adult. Then I can say and do (and eat) whatever I want!" Naiveté back then may have lasted until the ripe old age of twelve to fourteen years old. Today, sadly, a child must grow up quickly and witness a transparent world through war, acts of terror, poverty, and hate in order to survive and have the opportunity of becoming a productive adult.

Don't get me wrong! My career as a bonafide adult has had its grand share of 'ups' and I feel grateful and blessed by them every day. Perched high above the world we show our exhilaration by extending our hands straight above our heads, eyes and mouths wide open, literally anticipating the downward thrust.....gravitational pull that is certain to follow. 

This now becomes a test of our ability to survive whatever life has in store for us, make us think, take stock, and reevaluate what is important in our life. It may only be a small, shallow depression into the depths of the unknown; enough to play with the emotions but not enough to change or turn our lives around forever. But, it has an impact, one way or another, and how we choose to handle it is strictly up to us.

Recently, good friends of ours have had to cancel a trip they were to make with us due to recent health issues. Fortunately, these issues are being taken care of through the power of modern medicine and the generous amount of love and compassion shared by so many good friends and family members.

In an instant, life and plans can change leaving us to either make the best of a situation or flounder in the aftermath like a fish out of water.

My heart was heavy and a genuine feeling of sadness engulfed every ounce of my being. Instantly, I recognized that my sadness was not about me at all! Rather, it was about our friends. I would be okay. I was still going to travel with Dan by my side and experience new places and meet interesting people along the way. My personal sadness revolved around the fact that this would not be our time to share our experiences together with these good friends. I firmly believe that with plenty of faith and hope, we'll all be planning another trip together in the near future.

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another, especially the feelings of sorrow or anguish. With so many of us today embroiled in conflicts of health issues, money matters, retirement security, and the welfare of our own aging parents, the feeling of empathy for others is a humbling trait that we might all aspire to.

I believe with all my heart in the basic importance of being empathetic towards our fellow travelers along the path of life. Often it's easier for us to understand the pain of others if we have already experienced similar circumstances along this meandering roller coaster ride. However, by opening up our hearts to each possible experience that may affect all of us, in general, allows us to perceive their anguish in a brighter light and be better equipped to help them cope with it.

Who doesn't want to see someone smile after they've had a good, long cry? The sorrow has been expressed through the tears and the joy of a new beginning is strengthened by the possibility of a brighter future. To have been cuddled and comforted along the way is the ultimate feeling of optimism and well-being.

Susan Cheever, an American author, once wrote, "Dogs are great teachers. They are at home in the world. They live in the moment, and they force us to stay there with them. Dogs love us unconditionally, not for our bodies or bank accounts." And, I believe we're all suspicious of people who don't like dogs! I apply this same theory to people who do not show empathy for their fellow man.

Nobody sits at the top of the roller coaster indefinitely. Eventually, even the most privileged of us will dive down from his golden perch to face reality. When that time comes, for me, personally, I want to know that family and friends will be there to hold my hand, shed a tear or two with me, and feel my pain. And then...together...we will work on picking-up the pieces and begin the uphill climb to happiness once again.

With grace and dignity we should all be aware of not only our own personal feelings, but understand that we're all riding this crazy roller coaster called life together, for better or worse.

Copyright © 2016 by Jacqueline E. Hughes
All rights reserved

COFFEEHOUSE CHATTER - RIO AND TRUMP

A series of essays.....

GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE COFFEE

.....as seen through my eyes!




By: Jacqueline E. Hughes

From time to time, our neighborhood friends meet at the corner coffeehouse to relax, sip their favorite brew or concoction, and warm-up their hands and hearts...together!

Some might think of their meeting as a 'cleansing' or 'purification of the soul.' Even though they may share similar backgrounds and values, their ideas and opinions are as diverse and variable as the weather outside of the little shop.

Let's grab a cup of our own, take a comfortable seat, sit back and listen to what today's chapter of 'Coffeehouse Chatter' has to offer....



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Dana and Kelly are good friends.  They are single ladies in their early thirties and are highly career motivated. Weekend mornings are meant for catching-up on life and enjoying a café mocha or two.

DANA: Good morning, Sunshine!

KELLY: If you say so....

DANA: Come on. Brighten up! The sun is finally shining and the day is looking good this morning. No room for Eeyore at this table! Say, did you stay up watching the Olympics again last night?

KELLY: Maybe.

DANA: You can record it, you know, and watch it later.

KELLY: That's a ridiculous suggestion and you know it. It has to be watched live or it isn't worth it. I mean, who wants to learn the results by a CNN pop-up or have Lester Holt blab it out before I can see it? But, I will admit, it used to be so much more fun to watch years ago. They make such a production number out of it these days. Too much flash and not enough substance.

DANA: So, why do you, literally, lose sleep over it?

KELLY: I'm a genuine sports geek. I don't know. I try to eliminate the monetary equation and concentrate on the athletes themselves and how much time and effort goes into their training, alone. These days it can be difficult to differentiate. What used to be considered 'amateur' sports before is a lucrative business today. Everybody has their hand in the proverbial pot.

DANA: Oh, stop! You wouldn't still be collecting those dark circles under your eyes if you didn't think it was all worth it. I know you too well.

KELLY: Okay, it's really because they show the women's beach volleyball matches so darn late.....if you want to know the truth. I love seeing Kerri and April kick some butt! Along with ice hockey, it's one of the fastest paced sports I enjoy watching. There you have it!

DANA: And the truth comes out of her mouth at last!

KELLY: Besides.....the Rio games have been the best diversion ever from the political reality show we've all been living through for months.

DANA: Amen to that one!

KELLY: It's not like we can walk away from it, you know. The outcome of the November election will affect all of us one way or another.

DANA: (Chuckling and shaking her head) You're going to think I'm crazy but, I place much of the blame of the 'birth of Drumpfness' on the original reality show, 'Survivor.' Sixteen years ago the idea of reality television was infused into our brain cells and it's gotten worse and worse every year since then. These shows don't go away either. They keep multiplying and their context is becoming shadier and shadier as the years go by.

KELLY: Hey, don't be knocking 'The Amazing Race!' In my opinion, that's the best reality show ever made. Guess it's that competitive theme running through my veins again. That and learning about different countries and cultures.

DANA: Agreed. I do like that show. Still a bit like, "I buy Playboy Magazine because I like to read the articles," though. We believe we're participating but, we're actually just looking at the pictures. What I'm talking about is how these shows have given us all a voyeur's passport or license to live on the outside looking in and believing that we really are putting in the sweat equity as we sit on our couch, drink in hand.

KELLY: Kind of like me watching beach volleyball?

DANA: Not at all! You're a bonafide fan cheering on an Olympic team who's playing thousands of miles away. I'm talking about people who really like to see someone else's marriage deteriorate and end up in divorce. Or, believe that a person could find his or her soul-mate from a handful of people they've met and gotten to know for only a few days.

KELLY: What about dropping two naked strangers off in the middle of nowhere to exist together for almost a month? Like they aren't being filmed by a person with a camera right near them, right? Ugh! That one gives me the heebie-jeebies for sure! All of those slithering, creepy things around them....

DANA: You do realize that everything is orchestrated by the master conductors don't you? They're called the producers of the show.

KELLY: I do. Sometimes I choose to ignore that fact. I know a lot of people who choose to. It makes it more fun and definitely more interesting.

DANA: Well, let's not forget that in this age of narcissism we have legitimized taking 'selfies' as an art form, described and talked about ourselves in the third person, and have taken the negativity of the act of bullying and brought it into mainstream cyberculture through social media. Even Gabby Douglas calls social media 'hurtful' after ending her Olympic career with negative attacks based on not looking right or not doing the right thing.

KELLY: That poor young lady was in a world of hurt and my heart goes out to her. Too bad others around her didn't feel the same way.

DANA: And then there is the act of telling people, "You're fired!" and enjoying the prospect so much that you take it into the highest arena of politics.....the nomination for President of the United States.

KELLY: In my own justification, I have never watched 'The Apprentice!'

DANA: I have and that's what upsets me so much! I entered the bizarre world of Donald Trump and saw how his belittling tactics seemed to bathe him in a glow of self-importance while he sent his latest victim packing......down the elevator and slammed into a taxi disgraced and mortified.

KELLY: Hmm... Sounds like a man who loves his job and is living his dream because every time I see him on the news he's doing that same thing to somebody in the crowd. If you don't agree with him.....you're fired and escorted out the door. But, no taxi for you, Buddy!

DANA: Exactly! Do we want this man running our country for four years?

KELLY: Okay, now I feel like Eeyore again, sad and disillusioned.

DANA: Don't be, Kelly. The implication of 'I'm With Her' always brings back a smile to my face, hope in my heart, and the same feeling of worthiness and respect I've been feeling for the past eight years now.

KELLY: I guess a 'Reality Star' could never be as great as 'The Real Deal.'

DANA: (Smiling) I'm ready for another café mocha. Shall I make that for two?                                                                     

Copyright © 2016 by Jacqueline E. Hughes
All rights reserved

TREPIDATION: SADNESS IN A FRENCH PARADISE

A series of essays.....

THE HOTEL WEST END LOCATED ALONG
THE PROMENADE DES ANGLAIS, NICE, FRANCE 

.....as seen through my eyes!




By: Jacqueline E. Hughes


It is with some trepidation that I view the prospect of traveling to my beloved France this September. This is certainly a first for me and has caught me off guard. Allow me to explain. 

We plan our trips with adventure in mind, like many of us do. The basis for these experiences may be the discovery of a new international recipe to add to a growing culinary collection. Seeing new places and feasting on their history d'être has always worked well for Dan and me. Bringing home the joy of new friendships made along the way......is what I'd like to describe as 'simple perfection.'

The uncomplicated freshness felt by being in the south of France is predominant and, this visit will be no exception.

You see, there comes a time when nothing or no one can take the feeling of happiness away from you. When travel provides us with incalculable joy, the prospect of losing that feeling, that right, for any reason, is so beyond the thinkable that most of us deny the possibility with a French wave of the hand in front of our disdained-filled faces. Lately, I have used this unique French gesture often.

I've read stories of how rich Americans have decided not to travel in France this season for their holiday and have opted for various 'other' destinations. These Americans have sighted that terrorists tend to 'mark' the wealthy for attacks and they feel uncomfortable being their possible target.

For the record, they must have their own 'lofty' and disdainful form of trepidation.

I have never claimed that staying at the Ritz and being chauffeured from one exclusive shop to another while dining at yet another Michelin-starred restaurant each day as my idea of adventure! If seeking exclusive shopping time or eating rich food offers you an exciting, slightly dangerous good time.....C'est la vie!

And, herein lies the distinction.

Traveling for me is like moving from one enormous classroom to another. My teacher may be the antics of a small child, the perfect light of a hazy mountain morning, or the joy of sitting on an old log watching a handful of 'locals' intensely enjoying a game of pétanque (French outdoor bowling) in the afternoon heat. The language spoken might be 'Greek' to my ears, but I'm willing to learn a bit of it, employ elaborate hand gestures, and, at the very least, smile my way through any given situation. In the process of all this, if I can take away the knowledge of something new and put a smile on someone else's face at the same time, my education and spirit are greatly enhanced by the experience!

Traditionally, the last evening of our trip is set aside for winding-down, savoring a local meal, and eagerly weaving our way back through the intricacies of emotions and experiences our visit has provided us while viewing each one of them as a rich, artistic performance, full of nuance and equal importance. For us, this is a perfect segue back into reality. It bridges the gap between being in constant motion for ten days and the long flight scheduled the next morning out of Nice International Airport along the Côte d'Azur.

And then...... "On the evening of 14 July, 2016, 85 people were killed and 307 injured when a large cargo truck was deliberately driven into crowds celebrating Bastille Day on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, France."  ---France 24, International News                                  

 

                                

As I sat watching the news channel late that afternoon, when the initial reports of this horrendous act unfolded, I began recognizing landmarks flashing within the strobe lights of emergency vehicles. Among them, the pristine silhouettes of the white pergolas lining the Promenade, the distinctive onion-dome roof line of the Hotel Negresco, and I realized that the Hotel West End, located at 31 Promenade des Anglais, was emblazoned with identical flashing lights.

Hotel West End....beautiful and pristine clad in white marble from its enormous front columns and massive staircase leading up to her ornate front entrance with multiple 'eyes' (windows) looking out across the Promenade towards the shimmering Mediterranean Sea.....our hotel for the final night in France.

I remember feeling the warmth of my tears sliding slowly down my cheeks as I sat there watching the screen.

At that moment, I had no idea of the grave extent of carnage that had just unfolded before the entire world. There was no worldly or profound explanation for why this was happening. Everything went against the grain of every fiber of my being and my mind was incapable of comprehending most of it. It was a 'James Bond' moment where reality is undermined by an elaborate Hollywood script with 'extras' cast as broken bodies on the street and others dressed in emergency uniforms of many varieties attempting to assist them.

Herein lies the basis for my trepidation, my anxiety regarding our visit to France next month.

We will walk the path of these innocent victims of our dangerous times and see the numerous memorials dedicated to them as we make our way down this beautiful Promenade. How could we not? The signs will be everywhere and the memories still so fresh.....somber. Our hearts will enfold the spirit of our lost friends who were innocently enjoying the celebration of life, the unity of their nation, and the beauty of their surroundings!

Our last evening in France this time will definitely take-on a brand new dimension.....not measured in length, width, height, or diameter. Rather, we will be analyzing the scope and aspect of this changing world we live in.

By choosing to continue with our plans in Provence, Languedoc, and, lastly, our night in Paradise (Nice), we have already made the clear distinction and choice between the celebration of the goodness life has to offer and the genuine fear it may contain. We will never be foolish enough to discount all of the irrational people who are hell-bent on destroying life as we know it, either. We will become watchful and alert along our daily travels, yet not allow this new attitude to distract from the pleasure of being where we want to be.

During our evening meal along the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, under a canopy of twinkling September starlight, Dan and I will discuss the future, as well as our small role towards the alleviation of evil in this world. We will honor those who have fallen. And, we will hope and pray that our choices will aid in making a difference for every generation of travelers, students of life, and those who appreciate our amazing world for what it has to offer each one of us!







Copyright © 2016 by Jacqueline E. Hughes
All rights reserved

REFLECTIONS

A series of essays.....

REFLECTIONS OF LIFE
THROUGH A CHILD'S EYES

.....as seen through my eyes!





By: Jacqueline E. Hughes


The reflection of the person we believe ourselves to be can be seen, considered, and reconsidered after much observation and rumination.

Captive within a Fun House Hall of Mirrors, we see ourselves pulled, stretched, squashed, enlarged, deformed, and multiplied......a genuinely false impression of our true physical nature yet designed to stretch the imagination to its limits. We smile into one mirror that makes us look taller, slimmer and cry into another that bloats our collective consciousness beyond recognition.


Reflected in our daily life is the person we confront each day in the bathroom mirror, train window, wine glass, or puddle at our feet after a summer's shower. A thousand images of ourselves bent and bounced back into our own eyes from every imaginable surface we encounter. We have no recourse but to look back at this person, accept them or not, and constantly wonder if what you see is what you get; If what you see is what you share with those around you.

If we feel content by what we see in our reflection, we are less bitter and more receptive of what life, the world, has to offer. To loathe the person we see requires us to reevaluate our life and make necessary changes because our first priority is to love ourselves in order for our love to surround others in peace, joy and contentment.

Narcissism is a reflection of ourselves that, unfortunately, takes love and fractures its good intent into a million shards of self-absorbed interest. The inordinate fascination with oneself blocks out the reality of the world around us and minimizes the capability or desire to be of any assistance to those in need be they relatives, friends, or strangers.

The telltale sign that we are happy with our own reflection and that we like what we are projecting out to the rest of mankind can always be measured within the eyes of a child. The awareness and sensitivity of children is far greater than we could ever imagine and if our life can be determined in terms of good or bad, real or false, and honest or dishonest, we will always be able to see the results flashing back at us in their beautiful eyes. The promises of a lifetime can be seen through two small windows into the soul of youth and innocence.

Give pause to reflect on or think deeply about your life today. If what you see isn't bad, rejoice and take a moment to decide if you can go an extra mile by helping to make someone else's life better. Volunteer your time or donate your surplus 'stuff' so that someone else may have an opportunity for success.

If what reflects back to you is a broken or unhappy person.....seek support through others. The broken shards of any mirror can always be made whole again if we love and are loved in return. It may take time and it certainly will take effort, dedication, and the desire needed to fix what is broken inside.

Our lives mirror many of our greatest moments. May these moments reflect our best nature and always give us rise in seeking the ability or strength to respond adequately to any challenging situation; to ascend above the ordinary and empower each of us to break the invisible barriers that hold us back from becoming the best we can be.

Copyright © 2016 by Jacqueline E. Hughes
All rights reserved