COFFEEHOUSE CHATTER: DOING THE BEST YOU CAN

A series of stories.....

LIFE: COFFEEHOUSE STYLE ~ WITH A HOLIDAY TWIST FOR 2016

.....as seen through my eyes! 

By: Jacqueline E. Hughes

The neighborhood coffeehouse is a refuge for those seeking conversation with friends, free WiFi, a cozy corner to create in, a good coffee and tea selection, as well as a little peace and solitude....especially during the hustle and bustle of this holiday season. You, my friends, will come up with more, but three places that make me feel subdued to the point of gentle whispers and soft, controlled movements are places of worship, libraries, and our local coffeehouse.

You might think otherwise about the noise level within our coffeehouse since most of us do gather with the direct purpose of talking, reuniting with old friends, and conducting business. Even so, each time I swing open the large, double French doors, my visual consists of pockets of interesting people but, my audio, like music to my ears, includes everything from the hissing of the espresso machine to the inquisitive expressions of the barista trying to determine if an order is for 'here' or 'to go.'

My tall mug of Brazilian light roast was meant for a leisurely visit 'here' with ample opportunity to listen-in on the conversations going on around me. I promise myself to always be discreet as I snuggle into a comfortable chair at a corner table. From this vantage point, even facial expressions can tell a story and my imagination, earnestly, takes flight. After all, subtle observation with a certain degree of discretion is a writer's persona. It may be cold outside, but the warmth of coffee and conversation inside lends a festive atmosphere with Christmas only a few days away.....

Interpreted thoughts:

BRYAN: (Sitting at a small table alone, with sketch pad in hand. Quizzical look on his young, rugged face.) Man, I needed this cuppa this morning! I hope my friend (Josh...shall we say?) isn't snowed in. I need his opinion and text on this sketch. Whew.... Glad I'm a graphic designer right about now instead of pursuing creative writing at State. I don't think I could adequately put into words what I'm feeling at this moment, and make any sense of what's happening in this crazy world today. Anyway, at least I can draw my feelings. Hope they approve of them, too.

**********

MILLY: (Seasoned looking writer near a small window. Apple i-Pad opened in front of her. Fingers poised over the add-on keyboard. Salt & pepper hair is wind-blown with Hippie-like intent.)   Merde!!! I need another cup of coffee. My hands aren't even shaking yet!! (Smile grows on her soft, crepe-aged face) Submitting this one later this afternoon, old girl! I've been successfully creating poetry for ages now and, I'm so grateful that the thoughts and ideas keep flowing. Seems this place has offered me warmth, inspiration and lots of coffee over the years. (Scrutinizing the bold-faced watch on her left arm) Well, still time to check Facebook for a few minutes. Remember to get a to-go cup for the chilly walk home later... 

**********

ALICE: (Swirling her teabag to the point of frustration. Waiting for someone to join her...soon. Lines crease her forehead. Her young, pretty face aging with each tick of the 'cup-n-saucer' clock that hangs on the wall above her.) Well, Merry Christmas to me!!! And, I thought I was so smart! He'd better get here soon before I turn into a blubbering, hot mess!! I'm not ready for this. This wasn't planned. This is not how I wanted it to play out for us. Well, he's not going to run. (Her deep blue eyes squinting at the French door entryway) Neither one of us is ready to be a parent.... But, it will work-out. We'll make it work-out together because, damn it....I love him so much!

**********

Snapping back into reality, I see that Bryan's friend, (Josh, perhaps?), has arrived, kicking snow from his shoes, coffee in hand. Milly is sipping the third cup of 'strong black' I've seen since perching myself in this corner observation deck. And, it appears that our beautiful, young Alice has lost her nerve, abandoned her tea and abruptly exited through the swinging French doors! "Those who say there's nothing like a nice cup of tea for calming the nerves never had *real* tea. It's like a syringe of adrenaline straight to the heart!" so quotes the Cheshire Cat. Now, I sit here hoping that I wasn't, actually, right about our sweet Alice. That wouldn't be fair.

Polite observations:

LADY IN RED: (Sipping a cafe mocha for pleasure and warmth) I am so blessed this year. All of our kids and 'kiddles' will be coming home for the holidays. Even Randy is on a week's leave from his latest tour in Afghanistan! 

LADY IN BLUE: Does everyone know about Randy coming home?

LADY IN RED: No, and Paul and I don't know if we should spill the beans, so to speak, or keep it as a major surprise for everyone. What do you think? Oh, I'm so excited!

LADY IN BLUE: (Gently placing her coffee cup on the small, round tabletop) Then, I say....let it be one of the biggest and best gifts you could possible give to all of his siblings. They will appreciate it forever, my friend. Merry Christmas!

LADY IN RED: (As tears pour down her cheeks like spring raindrops feeding the flowers, surely, to arrive, she hugs her friend in BLUE and whispers in her ear) Yes, a very Merry Christmas, indeed.....

**********

OLD MAN: Finished shopping yet?

OLD WOMAN: (Sadness in her voice) No. It's difficult doing everything myself.

OLD MAN: (Slowly tipping his cup to his lips) You know I hate to shop.

OLD WOMAN: I know. Life is rough. (Inadvertently squishing her spent teabag with her fingertip as it rests in the bowl of her spoon) I'll manage. I always do.

OLD MAN: The kids will all arrive tomorrow night, you know.

OLD WOMAN: (Glimmer of hope in her eyes) I'm aware of that. Maybe Mary will give me a hand then.

OLD MAN: More tea?

**********

FATHER: (Both hands clasped to his steaming, white porcelain mug) Damn, it's cold out there! I don't think your Mother and I can take this bitter cold anymore.

SON: (Late thirty-something) Dad, don't start talking about Florida again. You and Mom have lived here all of your life. And, besides, your grandchildren would miss you guys!

FATHER: And, that's the stickler.....! We can't live without them, either. They grow and change so much every day. It's like watching you and your brother grow-up all over again. (Lips pursed, eyes staring, deep in thought) But, we are going to discuss Florida....right now.

SON: (Sloshing coffee on the tabletop as he, abruptly, places his mug down on the hard surface) What are you talking about? What do you and Mom have up your sleeve? Can't we talk about this after we all open our presents and enjoy Christmas dinner? Dad....come on. Have a heart.

FATHER: (With a smile on his handsome face) Well, we offer a compromise, at the risk of being labeled 'snowbirds,' that is. Mom and I have a date with a realtor in Naples next Saturday. We're flying down at the end of the week. We'll be looking for a place to stay for a two-month stint, beginning in January and through the 'rough stuff' up here in February. 

SON: (Looking, slightly, relieved) You'll keep your house up here? It'll be a temporary getaway, then? Two months?

FATHER: Yep! Your Mom and I love you guys way too much to make it permanent. (Winking) We're just looking for a short respite.

SON: I think all of us can deal with that. I love you, Dad.

The proverbial 'cherry on top!':

YOUNG WOMAN: (Slouching and whining on her side of the cushioned, faux-leather booth) I have to warm-up!!! It's freezing out there! My fingers are numb. 

YOUNG MAN: (Determination on his face) I'll be right back. They just called our order.

YOUNG WOMAN: (Moments later) Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.....! Let me get my hands around that delicious, steaming-hot mug......where are you going, baby? Did you forget something? (Total shock on her pretty face) What are you doing? I don't believe it! Oh, my goodness, you are not down on one knee!!!

YOUNG MAN: Do you remember the first time we had coffee here, babe?

YOUNG WOMAN: Ah, yes, yes I do. (Trembling) It was about two years ago. It was right before Christmas. OMG, it was exactly two years ago! 

YOUNG MAN: I think we knew then that there might have been something magical about the coffee they serve here, or something, because we both knew it was love, long before we ever said it. Right?

YOUNG WOMAN: I think that's why we come back so often. We fell in love here. Oh, sweetheart...

YOUNG MAN: (Pulling a small, black box from his coat pocket and flipping it open) Then...is there a better way to celebrate the magic for the rest of our lives? Will you marry me?

(The entire coffeehouse is so silent, not even the baristas are making their happy sounds and you could, truly, hear a pin drop to the floor.)

YOUNG WOMAN: (Electrifying pause!) Of course I will! I love you so much! Here's to Christmas Magic....!

(The patrons and staff breathe out with a collective sign of relief and excitement as the Young Man slips the ring on her finger. Loud cheers for the happy couple and ecstatic applause reverberates from every nook and cranny of the little, rustic coffeehouse. The snow is dusting everything in sight outside the old and drafty, wooden windows in anticipation of the 'Big Man' himself gliding onto the rooftops in a few days time. The magic of life itself is, definitely, in the air!)

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

Copyright © 2016 by Jacqueline E. Hughes

All rights reserved

THE TASK OF MAKING AMERICA SMART AGAIN.....?

A series of essays.....

.....as seen through my eyes!




By: Jacqueline E. Hughes
 

To make America smart again, you would have to assume that it was smart to begin with.

And, it was....before Washington D.C. became 'the swamp' following the November 8 election, it was known as a fair and balanced ecosystem that incorporated all people, faiths, and ideologies within its borders. It was quickly drained of its kindness and left vulnerable and open to greed, fear, and foreign influence!

As a young child living with my parents, older brother and, eventually, my two younger brothers, I was young, naive, and authority figures surrounded my everyday life. They wore grown-up clothes which included suits and ties, long black 'habits' that covered everything with the exception of their face and hands, and high-necked dresses adorned with silver chains from which a studious-looking pair of eyeglasses dangled from, often resembling an awkward piece of sculpture resting on their bosom. Authoritarianism.

This doesn't include the male authority figure who would preside at daily mass and then hide in a small cupboard as he listened to our sins, offered the forgiveness of God, and then sent us out of the cupboard to pray for that forgiveness. I can recall being on the playground when this holy man would stride through us kids on his way from the Rectory to the school building. We would all silently pray that he could not recognize our voices, connect them with our faces, and know what we individually confessed to him during the week! Humbleness.

Our respect for policemen went without saying. They were there to protect us from evil. Although, at such a young age, I really didn't know what that evil consisted of. Those were the days, as well, when the family doctor came calling at our house to check my throat and take my temperature before telling my parents that I had strep throat.....again, and would have to bed rest and take his prescribed medication. Consolation.

Growing older, my world greatly expanded and my own thoughts, lifestyle, and habits began to mold and shape my individualism and formulate my ideas as an adolescent and young adult. Maturity.

Fear was an obsolete term for me as I approached adulthood. I may have only applied it to the fact that I feared losing my parents one day....the only authority figures who, whether out of love or heavy doses of pure guilt, would always have the power to affect my life like no one else could. Loyalty.

I am, significantly, older now. I have lived through so much while making many decisions along with minor/major life changes. I have become book-smart, responsible, commonsensical, often goofy and carefree, with one of my greatest attributes being the ability to listen. It has always been a pleasure of mine to listen to what others have to say. Everyone is important and everyone has something they need to tell someone else. But, not everyone has the patience to just.....listen to them.

Aging and living a full life has taught me how important all of life's lessons are, whether good, bad, or indifferent.

Now that I am older, the level of my intelligence, I've determined, is not measured by an I.Q. rating or how many Facebook quizzes have been aced recently. Rather, it is based upon the observance of what is going on and being said and being acted upon (or not) within this amazing world we live in. 

Admittedly, we now live in a world of massive doses of positive and negative stimulus, mainly due to social media. Does having all of this information, literally at our fingertips, make us smarter? Or, is it information overload at its most ineffectiveness? Having graciously earned senior adult status, I have a few things to say about this.....

While I was living out my childhood under the thumb of the authority figures who impacted everyday life, I, more than likely, was making mental notes about what was going on within my own small world. Did I know or care about who the President of the United States was, what his job or purpose was? No.

What I did note was what influenced me the most at the time, which included how my parents treated one another, what my closest relatives (including grandparents) taught us about the world and the people around us, the importance of an older brother obtaining a college education, and the unimportance of girls, in general, achieving that same goal. How all young girls needed to protect their innocence, remain chaste, and never give in to their instinctive feelings or emotions. And yet....a boy wasn't considered a man until he had had sex for the first time! No double-standards here!!

When you stop to think about it, children growing up in the 1950's were primed and in full acceptance of their beliefs and experiences that were to follow in the mid-1960's. 

Simply stated....we had had enough!

We evolved into free-thinkers with an education and the ability to discuss with our peers the challenges, insecurities, and inequalities that made-up our lives, including the working establishment that we knew we could not avoid if we were to survive in this world. We remembered how many of our Mothers had been treated as second-class citizens by our own Fathers. How our relatives preached white supremacy under the guise of self-protection from the Negros that could do us bodily harm. And, how, as a young woman, we were guilty of 'leading men on' by the style of clothes we wore, if we filed our nails in the public eye, or if the kids we hung around with lived on the 'wrong side' of the tracks. Ah! No bigotry or racism there!

Sitting here pounding the keys of my i-Pad today, having already lived through many Presidents, some bad and some better than most, it's difficult to wake up in the morning without thinking about what is transpiring on the political scene today, in this case somewhere between Washington D.C. and a golden tower on Fifth Avenue in New York City. I, literally, attempt to suppress my feelings of fear and anxiety about the future by keeping myself away from cable news and Facebook. How's that working for you, kid? Admittedly, not very well. 

Always questioning what is going on around me, I decided to analyze the slogan made famous on the 'chapeau rouge' worn by this President-elect throughout his campaign. "Make America Great Again!" Thinking back far into my own childhood, I tried to recall what made America great back then and for whom was it so great and wonderful? 

Certainly not for many females, especially when, even in the mid to late 1960's, they were told that sending them to college was a waste of time and money. Certainly not for the poor who earned minimum wages while attempting to put food on the table each day. Certainly not for a person of color who had to fight for his/her equality every waking moment and were chided and controlled by a military force known as the local police. And, certainly not for the lonely, oppressed Mother who made the decision not to have more children even if it meant bleeding to death by a wire coat hanger knowing that this was the only way she had control of her own body......

Basic control over what others may say and do.....is that what this new administration believes will make America great again? 

In Baton Rouge, Louisiana earlier this week, after having recently won the title of Person of the Year by Time Magazine, the President-elect was openly complaining to his constituents that this title used to be called Man of the Year before adapting to the (in his words) politically correct version of 'Person.' Evidently, making America manly once again by not acknowledging the hard work of women or the presence of strong women within our society, will aid him in making America great again!!!

Being a woman and having two strong woman as daughters who, in turn, have introduced to the world three amazingly intelligent daughters of their own.....  I REFUSE to go backwards into the future. Especially, not back into the dark ages of our country's history where equality among people as a whole was non-existent, most men and women had no designs on their own destiny, and absolute power was in the hands of a few rich, mature white men.

The definitive progress made by mankind in the last several decades that was guided by mutual respect and understanding for one another is about as far back in time as I choose to go. Most of us have worked way too hard to have all of our long fought battles reversed by people who just wanted to shake-up our government, take back jobs that have been mechanized and are non-existent, who failed to understand that lies and deception are the new rules and guidelines set-up by the very person they voted for, and taking the benefits of a decent life of education, health care, earned rights of Social Security benefits and Medicare back into the dark ages.

If 'The Dumbing-Up of America' serves the handful of filthy rich and greedy characters that desire to deny Americans their basic freedoms, then hope will go by the wayside. The once great United States of America will tumble into a heap of rubble that cannot and will not be respected by the rest of the world. That decline has already become evident to many of us.

Is it too late, fellow Americans, to 'Make America Smart Again?' If it isn't, we had better get our act together NOW and do something to renew our Hope and Faith in a nation that is quickly melting into the hands of foreign powers, unhealthy greed, and the frigid bonds of dictatorship.

Copyright © 2016 by Jacqueline E. Hughes

All rights reserved

                                                                                  

ANOTHER BRIGHT STAR ~ TOO SOON!

A series of essays.....

~~TAKE REFUGE IN THE COZINESS OF THE 'STARRY NIGHT'~~

    Courtesy of The Imaginative Conservative



.....as seen through my eyes!

By: Jacqueline E. Hughes

Look up to the night sky tonight and you will clearly see another bright star shining down upon us.These stars are very special, you understand, because they represent the Mothers, Daughters, Sisters, Wives, Aunts, and members of the Sisterhood who have left our earthly company, with many having departed far too soon! 

Take refuge in the coziness of the night sky, my Sister!

Nestle in amongst the brave who have flown before you,

For, your time is now.

Certainly, God created the stars above to offer all of us hope; to shower those left behind in the brilliance of star beams and majestic twinkles so that we will never have to feel alone. 

Women comprise the earthly community of caregivers who, like an unrelenting firestorm, swiftly sweep through their domain rarely swerving in their determination to do what is best for everyone around them. They are mother to their own offspring, nourishing and protecting, while extending these magnanimous gifts to all children and anyone in need of a generous spirit or a masterful portion of dignity of the soul. This combination of qualities enables a woman to handle trouble with firmness (protect), disdain injustice, and be loyal and trustworthy under all circumstances.

Remain vigilant and firm in the hereafter, dear Sister!

Believe that your roots continue to grow strong and sound and that

Memory serves the soul of those left behind.

This is why those of us left here on Earth without you, Mother, mistrust our own emotions, doubt ourselves, and challenge the ability to cope with your loss. 

Heartbreak is having a Mother leave too soon.....sixty-two years of age....with so many young grandchildren left to wonder and ask the adults, "Why?" Answers forthcoming. And I, being her only daughter, her proud new friend, was filtering grief under a starlit Chicago sky while holding the hands of my own two young daughters; husband cautiously engaged in support and love. Really....what is the 'perfect' combination of words you might offer someone who has just lost a parent, her Mother, confidant, friend? A veneer of 'protective numbness' encased my being on that long, somber drive back to Michigan that night....under those same brilliant stars that showered their heavenly light, guiding us along that stretch of the I-94 highway.

Oh, night sky starred with bright earthly flowers,

I transfix on one special bloom, larger and brighter than the rest.

And bask in its light as it shines down upon me.

This past Sunday morning, a bold, new star dances above us, navigating the heavens, and shining her light upon the earthbound loved ones who look up to the night sky in search of the right answers, not only for their children, but for themselves, as well. 

This past Sunday morning, Lucille, Mother to our son-in-law, Eric, lost her battle with pancreatic cancer. 

Generous of spirit, extremely liberal when bestowing gifts, laughter, and love upon everyone around her, Lucille, wife of Alan, Mother of Adam and Eric, daughters-in-law, Melissa and Alexandria, and Grandmother to four talented, young spirits, Sarah, Amanda, Brenna, and Gavin.....you have left all of us way too soon!

Derived from Latin and French ("Loo-Sill") with an English pronunciation of "Loo-Seel," your name makes me think of a young girl, with thick, golden hair in long plaits resting down her back, running joyfully through a field of sweet grasses and wildflowers! It reminds me of fun and laughter on a Saturday morning watching "I Love Lucy" reruns and repeating the risibility of its contents over and over for her devoted fans to enjoy.

Lucille....not Lou or Lulu, Lucy, Lucie, Cici, or Luce. At least I have never heard you labeled by any of these nicknames throughout our time together. The strength of 'Lucille' always seemed to fit you best! 

The significance of your name was a special and pleasant surprise for me when I discovered that the name, Lucille, means Light: Moonlight, bright light, a state of awareness and understanding, spiritual knowledge and illumination or, 'The Light' in certain doctrine that describes a divine presence in each person. 

Looking up into the night sky tonight, another bright star will illuminate the heavens next to Olga, Beverly, and so many other Moms and caretakers who continue to shine their loving light down upon the children they have left here on earth. In this act alone, we will find peace and comfort and understanding beneath the star beams and majestic twinkles we so often wish upon.

Take refuge in the coziness of the night sky, my Sister!

Nestle in amongst the brave who have flown before you,

For, your time is now and forever!

In Loving Memory of Lucille Miller Siskind.

Copyright © 2016 by Jacqueline E. Hughes

All rights reserved