BELEAGUERED, SADDENED, AND ENCOURAGED

 A series of essays.....

PRESTON ROBERTS AND HIS YOUNGEST GRANDSON
PHOTO FROM HIS BLOG SITE: 'RAMBLINGS OF A DREAMER'

.....as seen through my eyes!

By: Jacqueline E. Hughes

BELEAGUERED*

adjective

1. harassed, trouble, plagued, torment, hassled (informal), aggravated (informal), badgered, persecuted, pestered, vexed, put upon There have been seven attempts against the beleaguered government.

2. besieged, surrounded, blockaded, encompassed, beset, encircle, assailed, hemmed in, hedged in, environed The rebels continue to push their way towards the beleagured capital.

First of all.....who uses the word 'beleaguered' in a normal, everyday Tweet, anyway? I mean, was his intent to write a novel in one hundred and forty characters (or less)? Prove that he has a better vocabulary than he did yesterday when we all know that he does not? A repetitive vocabulary of simple, one to two syllable words does not count as having a full on, adult, (2. The sum of words used by, understood by, or at the commanded of a particular person or group.) vocabulary.

Did he have to ask someone to use it in a sentence first in order to familiarize himself with the word? And, even so.....this may not have helped him. If I were to choose proper substitute words from the definition above that he could have used instead, the only one might be the word 'trouble.' All of the others, still a little too advanced for him.

BELEAGUERING  (bĭ-lē′gər)

tr.v. be·lea·guered, be·lea·guer·ing, be·lea·guers

1. To harass; beset: We are beleaguered by problems.

2. To surround with troops; besiege: The enemy is beleaguering the enclave.

There is only one person I see doing any beleaguering here and that's the man issuing the Tweet in the first place! Oh, and this definition tells it like it is!  So, maybe I'm misguided here, after all, and should be thinking in these terms: 

"We, the beleaguered people, the harassed, beset, besieged, tormented, and the persecuted people of these United States of America these past six months, would like a change. No, deserve a change. Nay, demand a change, for the enemy doth beleaguer the enclave....."

EUSTACE AND PRESTON

In watching the past several seasons of Mountain Men on the History Channel I've become quite attached to two characters who, at least for me, have epitomized the true nature of life among the valleys, foothills and the roiling purple haze of the beautiful Great Smoky Mountain range of North Carolina. Their names are Eustace Conway and Preston Roberts and, I guarantee that through their teachings and beliefs, they capture the 'inner joy' we should all share for living off the land and fulfilling our 'simple lifestyle' dreams.

Sadly, Preston Roberts passed away several days ago. 

Preston was a woodsman, educator, artist, craftsman, and environmentalist. He has been romping around the woods of Western North Carolina for over fifty years and has always claimed to be a "Jack of all trades.... Master of some." 

PRESTON ROBERTS AND EUSTACE CONWAY
TOGETHER AT TURTLE ISLAND PRESERVE
Picture Courtesy of Turtle Island Preserve

Together, with his business partner and friend, Eustace Conway, they have been running Turtle Island Preserve near Boone, North Carolina, where, "they live, teach, breathe, and believe in nature's governing truths." They interact with the beautiful, clarifying teachings of nature and pass this accumulative knowledge on to whom they call, "the wild youth," the kids who attend camp and classes at the Preserve in order to learn this important knowledge for their future selves and personal well being. "We dig deep, reaching profound connections within us, touching our ancestral roots," and Eustace, Preston and Staff have shared their extensive knowledge with others at Turtle Island for many years.

The core of Preston’s world has always revolved around the traditional Appalachian mountain people and he has had the honor of being taught by some of the best.

Included in his brief Bio that is a part of his own Blog site, I found this paragraph and realized, in no uncertain terms, why I am so enamored by this generous and loving man:

"Preston was born in 1957 and was raised in the once small town of Brevard, North Carolina. Pisgah National Forest was his early tromping ground, and he still frequents those familiar haunts. In 1975, he met the woman of his dreams, Kathleen DuPont McGuire and wasted no time in marrying her. While many people use the old adage “Behind every good man is a good woman,” Preston frequently is found saying “Beside every good man is a good woman,” and that she is. Together they raised 3 fine boys, and they are about to celebrate their 38th wedding anniversary." 

Having fallen deeply in love with this area of the country myself as a young girl, we have since purchased our North Carolina property that borders on Pisgah National Forest and Preston's old tromping grounds. It's a beautiful, magical place and a stone's throw from several entrances to the Blue Ridge Parkway where you can ride along the misty mountain ridges, stop a thousand times to take that 'perfect' picture, and fall madly in love with this area all on your own.

The world has lost a great man. Our youth has lost a great teacher. The History Channel has lost a fascinating, colorful, and soft-spoken character. Cancer is a demon we must destroy. I will miss you, terribly, Preston Roberts, and may all of the fortunate students you have fostered along your memorable journey through life carry on your traditions, good will, and zest for what comes naturally in this world. You are among the heroes that we all seek in our lifetime....

Note: Let us not forget all of the toughest Mountain Women, the likes of Mardy Mûrie who studied wildlife in Alaska, Hallie Morse Daggett, the first woman to work for the Forest Service in 1913, and the wives of Mountain Men who have proven to be as tough, proud, and courageous in every way....and then some!

'THE VINTAGE NEWS'

As far as I'm concerned, The Vintage News is a FaceBook Page that should be shared and savored by all of us. If you enjoy history and are even remotely interested in knowing who helped, what transpired, and how we got to the places we are at today, and get to see archived pictures that illustrate every step along the way, then this one's for you!

I mean, where else can you discover as you're scrolling through your Timeline news that "A huge wall at Cal Orcko in southern Bolivia reveals more than 5,000 dinosaur footsteps" (accompanied by a photo of said footsteps), or how the "Families of Titanic’s musicians were billed the cost of uniforms after the ship’s sinking." What?

TITANIC MUSICIANS

Several days ago, The Vintage News posted a picture of a 1908 Auto-Armchair Motorcycle. That's it. No accompanying story behind it; just a picture. It appeared, however, to have sparked my long-term admiration (love affair) with scooters, small motorcycles, and mopeds, alike.

1908 AUTO-ARMCHAIR MOTORCYCLE
PRESENTED BY THE VINTAGE NEWS FB PAGE

Did I happen to mention the Italian Vespa by any chance? I mean, what young girl didn't envy every rpm of Audrey Hepburn's scooter adventure through the streets of Rome with co-star, Gregory Peck, in Roman Holiday? I was two years old at the time of its release but always held a passion for black and white movies as I grew older. I have traveled upon many Greek island roads while following the curving shoreline along the brilliant blue sea while seated upon my own mint-green Vespa. The subconscious mind is a very powerful tool! This particular adventure, unfortunately, remains in 'to do' mode, for now.

MY MINT-GREEN VESPA
ISN'T SHE SWEET?

Orlando, Florida, promoting its sultry days and nights and making scooter travel an option for residents twelve months out of the year, has opened-up its Vespa sales into a wide market catering to those who embrace a 'mini-version' of the European mainstay of convenient transportation. I have had my mint-green Vespa picked-out for ages! The Vespa is an Italian brand of scooter manufactured by Piaggio. So far, we have artfully managed to avoid these retail shops, mostly located in Winter Park, because to even sit on one of these beauties could prove to be extremely detrimental to the pocket book. 

The power of suggestion that just one photograph has supplied me may serve to represent the power behind this magnetic FaceBook Page, The Vintage News. The 1908 Auto-Fauteuil was a step-through motorcycle with an armchair instead of a saddle. (Yes, I did look it up!) According to most Web sites, the armchair idea never really caught on, but given women's attire back then, it certainly catered to the modern woman 'on the go,' even though woman were not the target market.

AUDREY HEPBURN AND GREGORY PECK
IN THE MOVIE ROMAN HOLIDAY

If you happen to be an avid FaceBook adventurer, I encourage you to check-out The Vintage News Page. Who knows where the adventures will lead you; what enchanting stories their photos will encourage you to write about.....

*Definition of the word 'Beleaguered' and 'Beleaguering taken from: 

Copyright © 2017 by Jacqueline E. Hughes

All rights reserved

CONFUSION

A series of essays.....

~CONFUSION IN EPIC AND ANCIENT PROPORTIONS?~

~ROMAN ARENA LOCATED IN ARLES, FRANCE~
SEPTEMBER 13, 2016

.....as seen through my eyes!

By: Jacqueline E. Hughes

CONFUSION

reigns and messes with our state of being; clashes with the soul. A mixed-up, crazy tangle of this and that, here or there, that deposits within its wake, a state of tumult that can be as deep and cavernous as the mightiest canyon, the deepest ocean, and is as unpredictable as a sinkhole expecting to randomly claim its rights to all things both animate and inanimate. We are left with a confused collection of chaos and clutter from which we find we are constantly living in a world that is unsettled and lacking direction or purpose.

We seek safety in numbers when we must feel our way around a world that lacks coherence or a sense of direction and often find ourselves caught in an even graver tangle of bewilderment; a weak cannon not properly secured that could break loose from the force of recoil. Human nature compels us to believe, while in the state of being confused, that we can be safer doing something if there are others doing it. So much better than confronting it alone, adrift at sea and hoping to find a purpose and place within a world overflowing with diversity. There will come a time to decide if the plan to 'blend in' is a bold opportunity of seeking harmony within diversity or a strategy of furthering division. Even while blinded by uncertainty, it becomes acutely important that we decide on a particular path to follow. The correct path for us may serve to offer the clearness we seek and, ultimately,  suppress the confusion.

Only when we choose to embrace the enormous multiformity and complications of life, can we better adapt to meet changing circumstances that strive to constantly perplex and bewilder us, whether we are within a particular group or alone in this world mightily grasping to fend for ourselves. If we continue to be lost, disoriented, suicidal....we can regain our bearings, our sense of direction and purpose in this life if we remember to reach out to others, friend or stranger, woman or man, and understand that we are never, truly on our own. Sit down, close your eyes and allow the sensation of vertigo to pass. Yes, it will pass. By the time we reopen our eyes and feel encouraged by the calmness, a sense of embarrassment will float away from our bodies, our souls, as though a heavy load has been lifted from them and it appears we are floating inches above the ground. This contentment we are experiencing is the happiness and satisfaction of embracing a simple life; the joy of living in a log cabin deep inside the woods with nature surrounding us in abundance.

Like a blind person feeling the contours of a human face in order to 'see' them within their mind's eye, it is possible to obtain a tangible sense of structure and individuality. We are not all the same. Each one of us is open to interpretation. How people form mental images seems to vary, but the talent for mental imagery is far greater if we practice reining-in negativity, defeating disorientation, and learning to manage the confusion that lingers subconsciously and will only serve to sabotage the future. 

The acceptance of life, good or bad, fragile....disturbed, jumbled and disordered, allowed or inappropriate, only sets the ground rules for what is to be considered our personal 'roller coaster' ride. When we choose to accept the challenges this ride has to offer, as the wind blows back our hair and distorts our facial features, we must accept the responsibilities that go along with our decisions. As our personal story emerges, smooth sailing becomes an abstract concept such as beauty or love. The sooner we realize that it is possible to control our confusion, we are ahead of this game called 'Life.' The growing dependence upon our own imagination and abundance of ideas will help us get through the 'sticky' spots and we will be able to thrive well beyond our perceived capabilities!

Do not strive to completely avoid confusion. That is not our purpose. We will learn so much more if we consciously embrace it as one would a long, lost friend. It is the clear and present state of euphoria we experience each time our heart and mind filters our confusion and promotes the power of the imagination that takes us to the next level along life's numerous plateaus. We all deserve a pat on the back at this juncture because we are officially entitled to bear the label of 'Survivor' pinned ceremoniously across our hearts like a badge of courage and meant to be worn with pride!

~ROMAN ARENA ~ ARLES, FRANCE~

Copyright © 2017 by Jacqueline E. Hughes

All rights reserved

All Photos Copyright © 2017 by Jacqueline E. Hughes
All rights reserved

DON'T YOU SEE?

A series of essays.....

~THE AUTHOR ON A GOOD DAY~

.....as seen through my eyes!

By: Jacqueline E. Hughes

Personal Life Lessons and 'Questions To  Self' I've Encountered During the Trump Era: Before, during his campaign, and after his presidency began. Not, necessarily, in any particular or chronological order with some (most) rendered as deeply personal and emotional. A good friend recently told me that I am certainly not alone in my angst. 

At this point, I still choose to yell each one of these out loud at the top of my lungs because, somehow, it helps to make me feel a little bit better.

~ Don't you see that what was once perceived as fun and folly is now recognized as childish and immature behavior?

~ Don't you see that innocence has died and is being replaced by fear, hatred, retaliation, and an incalculable sense of loss? People have, are, and will suffer (possibly die) from your actions!

~ Don't you see that my profound feeling of simplistic trust and the self-righteous belief that someone or thing (government) will always have my back, in good times as in bad, has been thinned down to a bare minimum?

~ Don't you understand that unconditional love means just that? Not subject to any conditions with no strings attached. I embrace this concept. What about you?

~ Don't you understand that death is inevitable? We have no realistic control over it. It will take us all by surprise or not.....whether we like it or not, one day. This is why we appreciate, with all of our being, those we love while we can.

~ Don't you realize that no amount of riches, birth rights, or fame makes anyone smarter, less vulnerable, or better off than the person standing across the room from you? We are in this game of life together. We must help one another to make it work out for the benefit of all.

~ Don't you realize that mocking, belittling, and calling others by hurtful names only promotes your own weakened character and will, ultimately, lead to your own demise? You are a failure if you do not see yourself, kindly, in others.

~ Don't you know that bullies are loners who must implant fear in those around them in order to command, what a bully might perceive as, their loyalty and respect? It's an illusion. You are no more than a Las Vegas magic act with no redeeming value.

~ Don't you understand that the color of your skin, whether you were born female or male, rich or poor, Christian, a follower of Muhammad, or an atheist, none of these labels define who you truly are? We all belong to the human race. Each one of us share equal importance as participants in this life. 

~ Don't you understand that in order to receive respect from others you must learn that others need you to respect them, as well?  Have you ever been taught the meaning of this valuable word, respect? Oh, and it's pretty well acknowledged that if you don't respect others, you pretty much have never respected yourself. In this regard, you are only too transparent.

~ Don't you see that your take on degrading women by categorizing their appearance, treating them as sexual objects, and taking away their right to control their own body makes you a small person with a crippled insight into the entire other half of this world? Did your own Mother not teach you any better? Did she even bother to have you understand a woman's worth at all?

~ Don't get me started on your apparent lack of education (!!!) and not knowing how to handle yourself in public. A person who hides behind social media is a person who fears contact with others unless he/she is in 'bullying mode' and wishfully believes that they are in total control. 

~ Don't you realize, by the way, that social media is NOT your friend? It may get your several syllables worth out to your 'base.' You might believe you're getting your point across to the world in one hundred and forty characters....or less. However, you have marginalized your intelligence and placed the position of President of the United States in a gravely weakened position of influence and power. You have succeeded in relegating our nation's mainstream (middle class) to the fringes of society by making them seem unimportant, nearly worthless.

~ Don't kid yourself. You feel similarly about your so-called 'base,'  also. Pawns for your amusement. Drop them like a hot potato after they've been used-up!

~ Don't you see that your lies encompass your entire personality? Your temperament is like dealing with any child who is confronted by an authoritative figure. You contort the truth so handily that it must have been a trait given to you at birth. You've perfected it well. Most of us understood early on that what comes out of your mouth (or tweet) shall be turned one hundred and eighty degrees in order for it to, actually, apply to the situation at hand.

~ Finally, and most interestingly, do you believe in karma? I do. Do you even know what this word means? Probably not because if you did, you'd be more aware of what you are doing in this world you have been given so much legal control over. Or, would you?

You must believe in destiny or fate because you push the envelope of both throughout your waking hours. The main principle behind karma is, and I'll put it so that you can understand, what garbage you throw out of your window and splashes onto the street, as it does upon the inhabitants of the village, will inevitably come back to splash you in the face with all its dank murkiness and unsavory ramifications, sooner or later. In Theology this is referred to as the doctrine of inevitable consequence.

This distinctive negative aura, atmosphere, or feeling that surrounds you in every way leads most of us to believe that there is bad karma inside of the White House today. There is bad karma circling around Capitol Hill with its hate-mongers, heretics, and their excessive greed. There is bad karma surrounding unrestrained gun enthusiasts and white supremacists, alike. But, because you are their most influential cheerleader, your current status has awakened a profound and privileged sense of bravado in those too ignorant to comprehend plain, ordinary good judgment!

Don't you see that between your oversized ego and the ration of fear you continue to feed your minions on a daily basis, your fate will come to bite you in the backside with such a vengeance you won't even know what bit you for sure. The world was your oyster handed to you on a Presidential gold plated (in your case) platter. You were too ignorant, too into yourself, and too easily influenced by power, greed, and gluttony to even pretend to want to make this world a better place to live in.

I still continue to learn new life lessons every day. If I'm honest with myself, the strongest lesson I must reintroduce into my life is the power of Hope. If I can feel Hope in my heart once again, I will then work on Trust. Two steps back and one step forward....making progress towards a sense of normalcy, after enduring the stupidity of the past year, appears arduous yet, astonishingly, still achievable. 

Copyright © 2017 by Jacqueline E. Hughes

All rights reserved

NOTE TO SELF......

A series of essays.....

THE THREE MUSKETEERS BEFORE BOARDING
THE ORLANDO EYE

.....as seen through my eyes!

By: Jacqueline E. Hughes

Note to Self: Must Google name of particular phobia that describes living near a popular building, monument, or important place of interest and seldom taking advantage of visiting or seeing it for yourself.

What am I afraid of? There must be a title for this one, too! 

What is it? Laziness? Lack of curiosity? Fear of tourists? More than likely, it's telling yourself that it will always be there and you will have unlimited opportunity to make it happen, if and/or when you want it to. Fear of commitment...? 

GEARING UP FOR THE LATEST SPACE X
SATELLITE LAUNCH THIS WEEK ON THE COAST

Living in Orlando, along with so many surrounding man-made landmarks representing our imagination and desire for fun and distraction, it's easy to get caught-up in this irrational fear and, more than likely, opt for a lazy, uncrowded, sun-filled day by your own pool. From this vantage point, Dan and I are privy to seeing many of the floating villages with exotic names like Virgin, Lufthansa, AVIANCA, and Emirates decked-out in multiple colors and insignias like it was Brazilian Carnival in the sky every day! They are the jumbo-jets, 747's, that fly visitors in and out of the area daily and are so large that their heft and lofty appearance while gliding downward not far above us offers the surreal effect that mimics the attractions these 'villagers' from another land are here to experience!

We're all semi-familiar with the major attractions in and around the greater Orlando area such as Walt Disney World, Sea World, Universal Studios, and International Drive. I-Drive, as it is called by the locals, is not quite as popular to tourists traveling from within the United States to Orlando. However, tourists from around the world make I-Drive one of their important destinations. I must admit that when we were coming down for our week on Sanibel Island for almost thirty years with stops at Walt Disney World every few years, we did not venture into the Orlando proper enough to experience International Drive and were unfamiliar with it until becoming Orlando residents twenty years ago.

I will say that the recent evolution of I-Drive is bringing it 'up to par' with the many other attractions around us. It's cleaner and neater with more updates and adventures to experience and see. The restaurants are top-notch including Café Tu Tu Tango featuring tapas selections and live painters in eclectic digs, Taverna Opa Orlando with Greek cuisine and belly dancing, and Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar, to name a few. 

If you've been dreaming about entering a building that is seemingly upside-down....then WonderWorks is for you! This topsy-turvy attraction features over one hundred hands-on science exhibits plus laser tag, a rope course, and a 4-dimensional motion theatre ride. Then there's the dusty halls and small rooms filled with oddities at Ripley's Believe It Or Not museum, located just a short walk up I-Drive.

And the shopping!!! Oh, the shopping along this hallowed drive is phenomenal and the pure justification for every international shopper looking to bring home super bargains on bluejeans, footwear, and designer clothing from America. Jackpot! Often these die-hard shoppers will purchase a large, free-wheeling suitcase and roll it along with them as they proceed to fill it up while moving from one store to another. It's less expensive to pay for another checked piece of luggage on the flight home than to pay for standard shipping prices to send their booty back to the U.K., South America, or Germany.

I-Drive runs parallel with I-4 and many of the attractions, restaurants, and hotels are visible from the highway. However, there is a brand new attraction in town, baby, and it certainly stands-out (up) from all of the rest. It is one that I vowed I would never participate in, let alone invest the money on, considering it is the most typical and touristy site you will see in most major cities across the world today!

Located in the heart of the International Drive Resort Area stands the Coca-Cola Orlando Eye, a four-hundred foot iconic observation wheel that is the centerpiece of this new and improved, metro-chic destination. 

I will be the first to admit that I've pooh poohed this huge, white wheel since its completion. I've resisted any urge to climb inside any of its many identical gondolas siting the fact that I've seen an aerial view of my city via numerous plane take-offs and landings, as well as flying much lower over the city in a helicopter a few years ago. This huge, white wheel of motion held nothing for me until......that is.....until my brother-in-law, Chris, mentioned how cool it would be to ride high above Orlando. And, he's the one who's afraid of heights!!

This past Monday, July 3, 2017, we took our maiden voyage on The Orlando Eye. 

And....I really liked it!

It was twenty-two minutes of chronicling our activities of the past twenty years living along this amazing, sprawled-out space we call home. By the time our gondola made it up to the top of the wheel, we'd already reminisced about how young our girls were when we first visited DisneyWorld, off to the southwest. We pinpointed our current neighborhood to the east and viewed the numerous surrounding bodies of water (many springing to life as sinkholes) with a whole new perspective. Peering out towards the northwest, we pointed out to Chris the Keene's Point Country Club in Windermere where he remembers his niece, our oldest daughter, was married on a memorable October's day back in 2002. 

Somehow, I believe that locals are able to reap more benefit and insight from this panoramic spin above Orlando than the esteemed tourist can. After living here for years, we already have stories attached to so many of the sights around us.  

'SPRINKLE CAKE' MEMORIES
FROM YEARS GONE BY......

Tears? Did I have tears in my eyes by the time our stable, little car made it back down to earth? Perhaps. Perhaps the sun was a bit bright even through the protective Low-E coated glass that enveloped us the entire ride. Blame it on my sweet brother-in-law for, well, just being his 'curiosity motivated' self, and the fact that he will be celebrating a milestone birthday near the end of this month! No matter what, we would have never done it without his gentle push and open enthusiasm. 

Thank you, Christopher. So happy you were here, kiddo! Wishing you the Best Birthday celebration, ever!

Copyright © 2017 by Jacqueline E. Hughes

All rights reserved

Photo Copyright © 2017 by Jacqueline E. Hughes

All rights reserved