SAYING BONJOUR TO THE CÔTE D'AZUR

A series of essays....

LANDING AT THE NICE COTE D'AZUR AIRPORT

.....as seen through my eyes!




By: Jacqueline E. Hughes

I like the cosiness of an international flight. Maybe it's just the fact that a large group of strangers are able to sleep all willy-nilly among one another and within the close, shadowy confines of an otherwise long, narrow tube for an extended period of time.

Walking the long, narrow path to the toilet at the back of the craft when Mother Nature calls is a bit surreal and can be likened to representing the only surviving mortal drifting among a group of zombies within a Michael Jackson video. I know....that dates me. But, the darkness supplies listless arms, hands, legs, and even, heads protruding from the shadowed seats, their backs tall and uniformed like memorial stones aligned in perfect formation.

Navigating the narrow pathway of forced slumber is a prescreening of an Apocalyptic nightmare; faces frozen in unlikely poses, previously witnessed by nocturnal acquaintances alone, display drooling, stroke-like expressions. Uncontrolled appendages vie for the best 'incredible position' category as they unconsciously slither down sandpaper-like seat cushions and inflexible metal armrests.

Technically, we are being maneuvered into believing that time has no immanent regularity whatsoever even as it permanently pervades and sustains this amazing universe! For the duration of the six, seven, eight hour flight, we, as thinking and logical human beings, are cast into the role of 'needing to nap' infants who, a mere three or four hours earlier, awoke to normal morning rituals such as begging for our breakfast and experiencing the desperate need to empty our bladders.

Humans, for the most part, are easily manipulated....

We are fooled into believing one thing or another merely because we want to believe in something so badly, we 'll do or say anything to achieve the results we desire.  





We are served dinner while it is only lunchtime in our real world. Then we're told that if we cooperate and sleep well, we will be served breakfast in the "morning" when, normally, for most of us, dinner would be our main objective. To interrupt the natural timing within us is a strange yet interesting process and leads to jet lag or, the general feeling of fatigue and disorientation we experience after a long flight through several time zones.

Now....to add to this cluster bomb of mind bending unreality, did you know that we could be flying in a windowless airplane within the next decade?

Several European companies are working on a windowless fuselage and seat backs to be lined with smart display screens "that would tantalize your visual senses with panoramic views of the outside that come from a set of cameras mounted to the plane's exterior," says iflscience.com. For the claustrophobics out there.....I wish you luck! I don't care how many cute pictures are displayed around me, a plane without windows sounds like a total nightmare!

Let's not forget our ultimate goal: Traveling from A to B to C or D, depending upon how many stops or layovers you have between A and your final destination.

But, certainly, it's all about that final destination! It's the excitement of ultimately reaching that predetermined beginning of your journey where pleasant memories will soon be recorded and digital cameras will prove their worthiness. And, social media will soon be inundated by every move, place, and meal you decide to make, be at, and eat throughout this trip.     

Having strangers purring in their sleep next to you and having time twisted and turned in order to reformulate your physical and mental presence are minor distractions in the long run. When you do grasp the small tab and slide open the mini-shade covering your view of the world from thousands of feet above the earth, you hope you will be ready.

Each time we fly into the Nice Côte d'Azur Airport, I believe I am ready for the beauty that's there to greet me. I never really am. The Côte d'Azur blows me away every single time!

This coastal area of southeastern France, along the Mediterranean Sea, is roughly coterminous with the French Riviera. It includes the towns of Cannes, Saint Tropez, Juan-les-Pins, and Antibes, as well as the city of Nice and the principality of Monaco.



Numerous white vessels of various makes, sizes, and monetary values, cut through and dot the azure blue sea leaving long trails of white bubbles and saline froth behind them. The shoreline is defined by the lofty waves breaking onto the pebbled coast framing the distinguishable clusters of buildings along the Promenade des Anglais which stretches for miles and miles.

Small hilltop towns sporting ochre/gray coats of clay and stone sit like robust sentinels protecting the populous from seafaring invaders while serpentine mountains offer a sturdy backdrop to the powerful, natural beauty that washes down towards the sea.



         DAN LOADING UP OUR RENTAL CAR


Flying into France at this location always takes my breath away! And, so....this is where our journey truly begins. Bonjour Côte d'Azur! I am ready to hear the lilting French dialogue that will swaddle and intrigue me for the next ten days.


Copyright © 2016 by Jacqueline E. Hughes
All rights reserved

BLESSINGS

A series of essays.....

MY GREATEST BLESSINGS

.....as seen through my eyes!





By: Jacqueline E. Hughes


Blessings...

...come in an arrangement of different sizes, forms, and with a variety of both beneficial, as well as indistinguishable and seemingly negative connotations. A blessing can be given, cloaked within a brilliant disguise, counted innumerable times, and mixed or blended until it breeds something that may have bad effects, in addition to advantages for its intended recipient.

Blessings are small, individual acts of love given to and received gratefully by those who believe that these favors are gifts bestowed by God bringing happiness, approval, or good wishes upon them. Even 'small blessings' themselves are seen as benefits and advantages within this topsy-turvy world we live in and we become most thankful for them as we sift through the alternate possibilities. Having very little money can be seen as a blessing if it, at least, provides enough food on the table for survival.

Blessings often come in disguise as if they were guests at a masked ball, identities denied, yet distinguishable by their ultimate good effects. A 'blessing in disguise' might, initially, appear to be unlucky or bad. But, in actuality, the outcome has been shifted from the initial fear to something we might become eternally grateful for. A set of solemn circumstances, such as running late for work and losing a current job, could initiate a more interesting or profitable new job in the future.

The soothing words of the talented lyricist, Irving Berlin, would have us all "counting our blessings instead of sheep!" And, why not when all is right with the world while falling asleep counting our blessings instead of our worries? Beating the odds by surviving what could have been a tragedy and having us then realize our good luck is certainly grounds for counting one's blessings! When the consequences of hard work and planning fall short of our expectations, it's important to take note of other incredible things that have happened to us. This may just be the most important antidote to sadness the world has ever know!

Early explorers of our vast world, fearful of the unknown, would seek the blessings of the King, Queen, or highest ranked clergy by having them invoke a higher power for assistance, support, and inspiration before beginning their long journey by land or sea.

Beauty can be a mixed blessing. The attention received by a person of renowned physical beauty may only be a superficial blessing if others are less likely to take him or her seriously. We humans are often caught somewhere between that which is favorable and sailing adrift upon a sea dotted by active mines, disadvantageous features that we must learn to navigate around in order to survive. Many scientists proclaimed that discovering the power of the atom was a mixed blessing. Even as it opened our world to the positive aspects of nuclear power, it also made nuclear weapons possible.

We incorporate innumerable blessings every day of our lives, whether we choose to recognize them as such or not. It may be in the form of a short prayer of thanksgiving said before a meal; enjoying the blessings of peace or prosperity; the devout invocation of blessedness bestowed upon us by a priest during the benediction of a mass; loving permission to go, proceed, or carry on in full agreement with the ideas of another, or being touched by the help or services offered to us out of the kindness and good fortune of others.

As grandparents, we consider our grandchildren to be among our greatest blessings. When we are able to travel and explore other cultures and languages, we become blessed by our newly attained knowledge and may choose to share it with others upon returning home. Recognizing are own personal talent and being able to utilize it in order to assist, please, or offer a brighter life to someone else is a blessing we should all strive for. Good friends....a gift never to be taken lightly and a blessing for life.

The blessings and good wishes bestowed upon us through the kindness of others should be cherished and returned in favor by us to others who require them. When we are blessed enough to be able to understand our own bounty and good fortune and share it with those experiencing misfortune, we will have attained the full benefits of a truly blessed life.

Copyright © 2016 by Jacqueline E. Hughes
All rights reserved

IMPULSIVE BEHAVIOR

A series of essays.....

THOUSANDS LEAVE A MEMORIAL SHRINE FOR THE
VICTIMS OF THE ORLANDO PULSE NIGHTCLUB SHOOTING

.....as seen through my eyes!



By: Jacqueline E. Hughes

Get ready people because we are experiencing a 'cultural shift' from deep within the daily life and social network we currently hold so dear. Stand very still, close your eyes and you can feel that the times they are a-changing.....

As a child of the '60's Revolution, I can sense how the plates are shifting beneath me once again! The tremors of a powerful and mind-blowing quake is rumbling not so deep beneath the earth's surface, building up steam and preparing to Rock-n-Roll us into a brand new stage of existence. How accepting of it are we willing to be?

Our resident philosopher, renowned prophet, and song writer, Bob Dylan, turned heads around in those days with lyrics like this:

Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway
Don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There's a battle outside
And it is ragin'
It'll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the time they are a-changin'

We 'Truth Seekers' and students of the world knew what was happening back then and prepared for the long-haul. We encouraged the fight and took the lyrics to Dylan's song to heart and were, in turn, encouraged by them. We were the counter-revolutionaries long before Bernie, finally, charged onto the scene again in this millennium. We were determined to outline the misconceptions and intentions behind our government's involvement in the war in Vietnam and set it straight....even if it meant we were not willing to fight and die for something we did not believe in.

Living in Canada was an alternative lifestyle, freely discussed and often acted upon....consequences be damned!

I remember how we would sit and talk and exchange ideas along the way, for the most part, mindful of our constituent assembly and eager to make or change our political constitution. We were rebels with a cause and felt the time was rife with the need for a powerful change before many lives were lost due to existing policies.

Our generation wanted it done and, we wanted it done as quickly as possible... Having to go through the proper channels may have cramped our style, but we were conscious of the fact that our thoughts and words counted, to a certain degree, and the people running the show would at least hear us out, if not understand.

Impulsiveness. Impulsive behavior is the theme of this current revolution and led by a man whose trait is not thinking carefully before acting. A chameleon of words who changes his persona in order to please each audience with an assumed identity or character.

We have seen the impulsive 'change maker' and felt the negative ramifications of his mighty roar like a seismic shift threatening society as we know it. His impulsive and erratic behavior is based upon and characterized by actions rooted within sudden desires, whims, or inclinations rather than careful thought or planning.

The 'impulsive man' will bring about change. I will not deny that. But, change based upon emotional impulses or whims is brief, loud, and meant for the short term, not continuous for long term stability.

Impulsiveness is what drives the fear and hatred within so many of us, all around the world, in terms of political and religious ideology. Impulsive behavior has spawned new radical beliefs like the idea of building a wall so high that others cannot take away from us anything that is most righteously deserved as American citizens. But, at what cost to others? Impulsive behavior is directly responsible for the annihilation of so many innocent men, women, and children that it has become unconscionable and difficult to   comprehend.

The Republican choice for candidate for the Presidency of the United States is doing so much more than challenging our Constitution; he is denying it and all that it stands for! Whether out of ignorance of its content and intentions, or his own ego and ambition, he is making a mockery out of the hard work that formulated the principles by which we are governed.

I visited the Pulse Nightclub memorial last weekend here in Orlando, my City United. Tears from the pain, hatred, and shock that was the intent of a man fueled by hypocrisy and loathing ran freely down my face. I was not alone. Thousands of us were paying our respects to the innocents who have now become martyrs due to impulsive and irrational behavior.

Soon I will be shedding fresh tears as we walk along the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, France, alongside others who question and wonder about the instability of mankind.

We are being tested. Our values and morals and poor judgment regarding the annihilation of our Planet Earth are on display for all to see, and we are all being tested.....every single day!

November 8, 2016, is our designated exam day as we check the boxes for whom we believe will shed a favorable light upon the United States for years to come. I hope we do well on this test. Our lives and those of our children and grandchildren truly do depend on it.

Copyright © 2016 by Jacqueline E. Hughes
All rights reserved