A series of essays....
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| "THE CAKE WAS DELICIOUSLY SWEET AND SATISFYING." |
....as seen through my eyes!
By: Jacqueline E. Hughes
I wish, growing-up in the 1950’s, that Jack Ridl had been a part of my life.
I wish he had been there when several neighbor kids, along with my older brother and me, decided to dig a deep, earth cave out in the empty corner lot under the single, gnarled mulberry tree. Jack would have enjoyed the freedom we all felt in that haphazard cave right before the parents discovered us deep in the worm infested soil.
I wish I had been there to hold his hand and weep together when he and his family lost a baby boy (brother) at birth. The ‘50’s were often cruel and insensitive years.
I would have built cardboard turrets and lofty lofts in our backyard clubhouse in honor of Jack if we had been childhood friends. My ‘gang’ settled for large appliance boxes supplied by parents who were fortunate enough to be able to upgrade their kitchens and we cut tiny push-open windows on both sides and drew a version of the skull and crossbones above the door; youthful landlubbers dreaming of pirates and adventures at sea or a reminder of our own mortality?
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| JACK IN TEACHING MODE |
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| JACK EXPLAINING HIS CONCEPT ON WRITING MEMOIRS |
I first met Jack last year. It was April of 2018 when he gave prompts for writing about our personal history (memoirs) and examples of his own writings that spoke volumes about his youth and growing-up and what circumstances helped to make him the man he is today.
This was one of the best writing classes I have ever had the opportunity to enjoy and learn from!
Marsha, a longtime friend of Jack and his talented wife, Julie, and I decided to treat ourselves and drive to the Douglas Congregational United Church of Christ located in Douglas, Michigan,about an hour’s drive from Kalamazoo, to study under the guidance of Jack Ridl at his three hour writing workshop. The quaint, white clapboard, and handsomely steepled venue fit all of us perfectly and by the end of our session my heart knew I was part of this welcoming family.
You see, Jack Ridl is a writer, poet, teacher, mentor, family man, and......friend to so many of us!
Jack is a former professor at Hope College in their English Department where he taught for 37 years. He and Julie founded the visiting writers series at Hope where his students named him their Outstanding Professor and Favorite Professor. The Carnegie Foundation named him Michigan Professor of the Year in 1996.
Jack retired from teaching in 2009 and is the author of several poetry collections including Broken Symmetry, Practicing to Walk Like a Heron, and Losing Season, all having won numerous national awards.
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| JACK'S LATEST POETRY COLLECTION |
His latest collection, Saint Peter and the Goldfinch, brought us back to this little church last Friday where a gala celebrating the launch of his new collection was to take place. I could hardly wait to purchase my own copy of Saint Peter and the Goldfinch, whose cover had been beautifully illustrated by his daughter, Meridith, and be the proud recipient of his personal signature somewhere on its title page. I was not disappointed.
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| JACK CREATING A 'MUSICAL COMMUNION' WITH THE JOHN SHEA TRIO |
The little church was bursting at the seams with friends, fans, former students, and family. The cake was deliciously sweet and satisfying. Crystal clear musical notes wafted out from the sanctuary in various ways during the festivities that evening beginning with songs sung by the Persisterhood Choir and the jazz beats of the John Shea Trio who performed with Jack in a ‘musical communion’ between poetry and jazz.
The highlight of the evening, of course, was Jack reading selected poems from his newest collection up at the podium when he sent chills of joy through all of us while he expressed his personal history and thoughts regarding the mystery of love and how he imagines love to be via personal experiences set in poetic form. A brilliant performance!
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| JOHN SHEA TRIO PERFORMING AT THE 'AFTER PARTY' |
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| BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS ACCENTED THE GALA |
Smiling boyishly while crinkling his eyes, which happens often, Jack pours out the deep respect and kindness that flows from within his heart and blesses everyone with his love. We all become a part of this long journey in life that Jack began so many years ago while growing up in Pittsburgh. Now, having lived and worked for many years in Michigan, he conducts his workshops and readings while continuing to delight his fans with new material based on his loving and gentle lifestyle.
I love this sweet man.
The concept of love can be quite simple.
As if he had been my neighbor (playmate and chum) for years and we’d shared digging an earth fort or creating a clubhouse out of appliance boxes together, with each Jack Ridl poem I read, I discover more and more about the author and his intimate curiosity connected with everyday life, loss, discovery, love, and the passing of the seasons. Jack has helped to create an interesting journey that most of us can relate to and feel right at home with but, ultimately, includes Jack's personal history and deepest thoughts.
My appreciation goes out to Wayne State University Press, Julie and Meridith Ridl, Pastor Sal of the Douglas Congregational United Church of Christ, the people of Douglas, my dear friend, Marsha Meyer, who introduced me to Jack, and last but foremost, to Jack Ridl himself.
Remember...April is National Poetry Month!
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| JACK SIGNING COPIES OF 'SAINT PETER AND THE GOLDFINCH' |
Copyright © 2019 by Jacqueline E. Hughes
All rights reserved
