ALWAYS LET THERE BE LIGHT AND ENLIGHTENMENT

 

A series of essays….

THE EXCITEMENT OF THE UNKNOWN CAN LAST A 
VERY LONG TIME—EVEN IN YOUR DREAMS OR
YOUR NIGHTMARES.

….as seen through my eyes!

By: Jacqueline E Hughes 

There Can Be Light Where There Once Was Darkness

Dappled sunshine covers the entrance to the secret tree-lined passageway that connects the outside world to a fairyland filled with wonder and joy.

Entering the lane lifts the soul to great heights and sends shivers down the spine with acute anticipation for what lies ahead. Walking slowly and savoring the moment, one is able to take in the colorful, natural sights and listen to the sweet sound of birds singing up above.

Walking closer and closer to the entrance of marvels and wonderment, I position my outstretched arms to enter first, as if reaching out and grasping all of the happiness I can afford to hold in my hands…

And Boom, just like that, my delicious dream dissolves into thin air. The walk down an Irish memory lane goes up in a puff of green-tinted smoke and I abruptly sit-up in bed like an extra in Michael Jackson’s Thriller music video. 

Reality speaks out loud and clear. What my subconscious attempts to run from in order to secure peace of mind, ends up biting me in the derrière in the long run. The joy I sought at the end of the tunnel-of-trees was, in reality, the nightmare that has haunted me for years.

The dark recesses at the end of the tunnel combine the fear and betrayal we feel as those who revere a democratic society and live according to its rules and regulations. In which direction are we headed and is our very freedom in the balance? Unfortunately, there are certain individuals who would love to remove our freedoms and bring on an authoritarian society.

If you’ve been experiencing all of the above emotions and mindsets (nightmares) just as I have—the importance of voting on or before November 5th is real, healthy, and one of the most important things you can do in this lifetime. Help to dissolve the darkness at the end of the tunnel and usher in the light…for the good of all of the people! Vote!

 The Light Brings An Abundance of Joy!

The long, narrow living room faced a sunny aspect to the south of the property. Given all of the tall, mature trees surrounding the three-quarters of an acre the cottage was situated on, accent lighting was a must and, generally, left on most of the day. 

This day was no exception because it had been drizzling autumn tears for much of the morning and, according to the weather forecast, would be for most of the day. As she sat on the far end of the dark brown, leather couch writing stories on her i-Pad, shadows of tree branches and shrubs danced across the room like fairies predicting a peaceful slumber in the near future.

She relaxed after typing several pages and surrendered to the fairy dances that slithered across the stone fireplace and unoccupied chairs in the cozy room. The little people spoke behind her closed eyelids and whispered how the day was young and she’d have plenty of time to continue her writing after dreaming about pleasant romps through the woods while plucking wildflowers at her feet.

Her sleep-heavy head drifted to the side like a cut tulip adjusting to its life in a vase. The i-Pad on her lap shifted slightly to the right but remained ready for its owner to charge onward whenever she was ready to do so. It was peaceful where she was. It felt right.

After a fairy’s moment in time, even her closed eyes detected movement and a bright color usually associated with panic or fear. Upon opening her eyes, the cozy room was bathed in shades of roses, delicious apples, and ripe cherries with a rosy glow of reflective light shining from within the cut glass candlestick holders living at the center of the dining table. The light was so strong it bounced off of the pale green walls and she amused herself thinking that the little people must have redecorated the cottage while she slept.

The sight was amazing to behold! 

Turning to her right, she gazed from the piano top bathed in red through the glass of the French doors at the back of the house and just beyond the deck to where the sassafras tree grew straight and tall. Its broad leaves clustered and drooping after a long, hot summer was, somehow, swathed in golden sunlight emanating from the southern sky; Its low profile wrapped in a sea of cerulean blue. 

Like a spotlight of hope, the sun drew fire from the brooding crimson leaves and flashed its concentrated warmth through the small house, startling the woman with her own laughter. In doing so, the happiness that glowed around her, also, grew within her. Scrapping her original story idea, she now began telling her readers about this amazing experience that opened her eyes to the power of both color and light. 

Wisdom Beyond Her Years

Lisa, sporting seventeen-and-a-half-years of age, a high school senior, could not believe that her dad was waffling between voting or not voting in this year’s presidential election. Wishing she could vote and missing the opportunity by slightly over six months, it seemed egregious to have someone she knows and loves not take the opportunity to exercise their right to vote.

This is hardly the time in the history of the United States to be so cavalier as to not support democracy with all of the freedoms it has provided us, ignore the economic and healthcare plight of the middle class and the poor, and grapple with the uncalled for demise of Roe v. Wade and the rights of all women to have control of their own bodies! This last point disturbed Lisa very much especially since she was already fifteen when this law was taken away after over fifty years of service to all women, including her mother and grandmothers.

So, one day, when unusual circumstances found Lisa and her dad alone, she decided to approach him with her concerns.

— Dad. Can we talk? 

— Sure, of course.

— I hear that you aren’t planning to vote next week.

— Hey, that really doesn’t concern y..!

— Oh, but it really, really does, dad. I am a woman, nearly eighteen, and have lost my right to a better, healthier lifestyle because of a presidential administration that has never cared about the well-being of women! Now, that man is running for another term in office. He is such a disgrace as a human being, let alone as the leader of this country once again!

— I understand, Lisa, but if both candidates displease me and take me out of my comfort zone, I have my rights, too. 

— But, if your rights supersede the rights of those you love—isn’t that being counterintuitive? Shouldn’t we as responsible citizens work to correct what we perceive as wrong and then make the changes needed to create a stronger, better place to live for everyone?

— Hey, when did you become the strong politician in this family? Weren’t you just playing dress up in mom’s heels a little while ago?

— That’s just it, dad. I’m all grownup now and about to go out into this world all on my own. I’ll be in college next year and I sure would feel more comfortable knowing that I have people around me who can answer any questions I might have concerning my body and my health.

— You know that mom and I will always be there for you no matter where you are…

— I know. I appreciate that. But life can be a little more spontaneous than that.

— I gotcha, kiddo. So, what you’re asking me to do is vote like I am voting for you! Keeping it real and not wasting my vote by not showing up. Even if I disagree with even one policy for each candidate, I should realize what is at stake for others if I waste an opportunity to help make things better. That makes sense.

— Don’t just think of me, dad. So many women are in your life who need your support and love: four nieces, their mothers, your daughter, grandma, and, of course, mom, to name a few. 

— Lisa, I am very proud of you. I wish more people could get together and discuss what is on their minds. You know, I think politics might be something you should look into in the future. It could be your calling.

Perfect timing! Mom pushes open the backdoor and asks if anyone is home.

— Can I have some help carrying in the bags of groceries—please? I’m making steaks and roasted potatoes for dinner tonight. One of your favorites!

Please remember how important your vote truly is. Democracy and Freedom are at stake on November 5, 2024!

Copyright © 2024 by Jacqueline E Hughes

All rights reserved

 

SPONTANEOUS CELEBRATIONS

 

A series of essays....

PEOPLE CELEBRATE ON THE STREETS OF NEW YORK CITY
AFTER JOE BIDEN WAS DECLARED PRESIDENT-ELECT. A SPONTANEOUS
CELEBRATION OF PEOPLE LONG OVERDUE FOR CHANGE.

Courtesy of The New York Times

....as seen through my eyes!

By: Jacqueline E Hughes

Late in the morning of November 7, 2020, the world changed...significantly. Beneath facial-masks were cheeky grins layered with fresh dreams made possible by a Biden/Harris winning ticket. If you believed, how could you not feel a bit sassy and pleased? Four years of tension and anxiety had just snowballed down the ‘Mountain of Lost Hope’ and our collective ‘tears of relief’ were creating orange tinted rivers that flowed out into the mighty seas.

Someone I know and respect as a writer, teacher, and good human being recently posted a meme stating: “Trump is turning America into a Banana Republic.” If she were simply initiating a ‘writing prompt’ for her students, I completely understand that. Instantly, people from all over the world began to negatively comment on this meme and they were plentiful, hurtful, and exasperating. Amanda, the crazies have crawled out from beneath their rocks to concur with this statement. Do they wish the USA to experience similar circumstances in order to justify their own losses? I am here to say that we plan to stay focused and fight like hell not to be led down that rabbit hole any longer.

Democracy is only as good as the people who support it and help to make it work. Yes, it is with great sadness that I understand the last four years have been choreographed by 45 and other dictators and despicable politicians. Many people have suffered the hate and humiliation sponsored by them. We the people have fought long and hard to change the specifics of this passé performance by legally electing a strong and loyal team in Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. They are already working hard on removing the walls, complexities, and hatred that have been collecting for many years. It’s time to believe...

Our deliberate show of emotions, especially after the past four years of being torn down and humiliated in the eyes of the world, deserve the spontaneous celebrations offered by the oppressed citizens of this country. Do not worry. Our minor happy dances in the streets did not expend all of our energy or leave the coffers of Democracy empty and askew. If anything, our celebratory souls have been renewed and re-energized for the fight for freedom that is ahead of us. 

 

Elizabeth Gilbert, American journalist and author, best known for her 2006 memoir entitled, Eat, Pray, Love, has written all of us a letter specifying how she had battled depression years ago and made the realization that lying alone in bed, not sleeping, not reading, but thinking, was the most dangerous place to be. “Captivated by what I came to call “horizontal thinking”—the worse off I would be. What I cannot do in bed, if I want to survive the treacherous crevasses of my own mind, is think.”

She goes on to say, “I don’t know who needs to hear this today, but here it is: If you are physically able, get up now. Nothing good will ever come to you from horizontal thinking. Don’t let your mind win its most brutal game. You deserve better. Get vertical. Move your mind to a higher altitude where the view is better. You can do this.”

The view has certainly been looking much better, lately. Its vertical heights have empowered us while helping to shake-off the images of anxiety, shame, despair, regret, unworthiness, and past failures in a brilliant  attempt to avoid future catastrophes. For this important awareness alone, we deserve to celebrate. Thank you, Elizabeth, for your words of knowledge and encouragement!

Georgia, Georgia, Georgia—you are definitely on our minds.

We stand close by our President-elect and Vice-President-elect with our spirits uplifted even while acknowledging the fight for logic, freedom, and democracy that’s before us. In great numbers, we will be stronger, better. Rushing in, with Georgia on our minds, it is time to support the Democratic candidates, Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, in a double-barreled Senate runoff election to be held on January 5, 2021. The outcome of this race will determine control of the Senate under the Biden administration for its first two years. 

Think again if you believe that Joe Biden alone can change the negative and destructive policies established by the current administration that heavily relied upon the support of Mitch McConnell as Majority Leader of the Senate. Understand how this combination has undermined our freedom and democracy for so long, even during the Obama era. Then, realize how important these two Senatorial runoffs are. With the tenacity, experience, and intense cheerleading offered by a strong, black woman and voting rights activist, Stacey Abrams, we hope to control the Senate as of January 20, 2021, and begin the healing this country so deserves.

We may have had our glorious few moments of dancing tall and joyously in the streets of this great country, but we must now embrace the monumental tasks ahead with grace and dignity. We have been rejuvenated by the examples set by Joe and Kamala along with their brilliant victory we celebrated on November 7th. But, we cannot stop there. 

There is no time for “horizontal thinking!” It’s time to stay sharp, think on our feet, and elevate ourselves from the sinking depths of the past four years. By believing in our right to shake-off false images of hopelessness and despair, together we can and will make this happen.                                                                     

For the love of our country and everyone living here, please where a mask while in public and donate your time, money, and effort into the two Senatorial races in Georgia. With these victories under our belt, the real celebrating can begin!

Congratulations going out to Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and everyone who still believes in fighting for our people, politics, and freedom.

May we begin to experience a smooth and peaceful transfer of power.

Thinking of all of our uniformed soldiers and thanking them for protecting our freedom. May we earn their respect for all of the sacrifices they’ve made to protect and defend our great nation.

 

Copyright © 2020 by Jacqueline E Hughes

All rights reserved

THE ELEVENTH COMMANDMENT: THOU SHALL NOT BECOME COMPLACENT!

A series of essays....

COMPLACENCY IS THE ENEMY OF PROGRESS.
THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO BECOME COMPLACENT.

....as seen through my eyes!

By: Jacqueline E Hughes

Today is the day—the moment of truth. A day that will go down in infamy, filled with scandal and dishonor, or—it will be one to be proud of knowing that Americans believe in the freedom and happiness that stems from a good life with equal opportunity for everyone! Today is a day marked with historical connotations that will either cradle these times within the gentle hands of democracy and truth, or beat up already weakened minds and bodies with fists of rage, continued oppression.

Today is the day—the moment of truth!

The idea of being or becoming complacent should have, at least, been one of the Ten Commandments. Not knowing which of the original Ten Commandments it should have replaced, it may have become the Eleventh Commandment instead: “Thou shall not become complacent.”

Remembering my Catholic upbringing and teachings, I recall that the Church doesn’t see the Ten Commandments as arbitrary rules and regulations from the person upstairs, but as commandments for our own protection. “Obey them and eternal happiness is yours. Disobey them and suffer the consequences.” When explained in this manner, my young, six or seven-year-old self would look at the elaborately layered and robed priests and nuns as flesh and blood symbols authorized to dole out any punishment they saw fit if we did not comply by these simple rules of the Church.

It’s not until we grow-up do we come to realize that we are our own judge and arbiter of our personal life and habits. We alone determine if we will allow the commandments to be our guide to being a person of sterling character with an elevated ethical behavior.

Today is the day—the moment of truth!

Thou shall not become complacent, comfortable, content, smug, or lazy. The moment we reach the pinnacle of self-satisfaction or the most successful point in our lives and feel there is nothing more we can do, doubting there are any new accomplishments to strive for, we have become complacent. We are experiencing a feeling of quiet pleasure and are often unconcerned with unpleasant realities or future harmful possibilities.

If we continue to drop our guard and stop protecting ourselves against trouble, relax our vigilance, we could end up in a world of hurt. Unfortunately, on November 8, 2016, we did just that. Through our acute feeling of complacency, belief and rationale that others would ‘get the job done for us,’ and they would vote for the moral and ethical logic of Hillary Clinton, we allowed for a wide enough crack in our standards to permit the hatred, lies, and indecencies of a dishonorable man to infiltrate our lives and infect our souls.

We need time to peel back the layers of hate and mistrust after the last four years; time to heal and then surge forward with our positive ideas and plans for a better life.

As we sit here on Election Day, battling for the soul of the nation, I have to ask myself if we’ve truly learned invaluable lessons during the past four years? Do we now understand that it is never a good time to let our guard down and become complacent? And, most importantly, will we allow the hate, bigotry, and selfish greed to carry on for another four years and watch the country be crushed even further by hopelessness and despair?

Today is the day—the moment of truth!

It’s about time we grow up, shed our childish fears, and become adults. If you haven’t voted already, today is your final chance to make it be known that you’re not going to be bullied any longer! You will not give up the right to participate in our political process by relinquishing your vote. You will become an active participant in the consequences of your own future. You will not be complacent and later only wish that you had exercised the honor and privilege of making your voice be heard.

Yes, today is the final day—your moment of truth. Go to the polls, masks on, and MAKE YOUR VOTE COUNT!!

Copyright © 2020 by Jacqueline E Hughes

All rights reserved 

 

THE EXOTIC ELIXIR OF PACIFICATION

A series of essays....

OPPRESSION ON A GRAND SCALE:
GREAT FAMINE NATIONAL MONUMENT, COUNTY MAYO, IRELAND
WITH CROAGH PATRICK IN THE BACKGROUND 

....as seen through my eyes!

By: Jacqueline E Hughes

Have you ever tried to pacify a small child? If so, you have earned your first merit badge in the fine art of patience/diplomacy. Even if you were not one hundred percent successful, you must know that you have learned quite a bit about your own personality and strengths after all is said and done.

I remember that it would always take a calm, soothing voice of reason to bring to and restore a state of peace and tranquility into the world of a small child whose feathers have been ruffled because certain demands have not been met (especially, in a timely manner) as far as they were concerned. Nine times out of ten this all came to pass in a public setting with millions of curious souls milling around, wishing you the best with their eyes and blissfully content that it was happening to you and not them. 

Throw a dash of bribery and a pinch of promises into this exotic elixir of pacification and you have one mystifying concoction that should be bottled and sold to every couple hoping for or anticipating a first child. Liquid Pacification. Directions: One spoonful taken during the red-faced and trembling stages and just prior to the full-blown onslaught of a mighty tantrum. Often useful towards maintaining the sanity of all participants.

Whether we like it or not, 45 has turned most of us into that desperate parent trying to calm the overgrown child with our soothing voice of reason. We are on one of the largest public stages now, performing our pacification rituals for all the world to see because one of the most unpredictable, self-possessed, and spoiled brats of all time is tearing us away from anyone who ever looked-up to or hoped to emulate our kindness, the pledge of being “indivisible with liberty and justice for all,” and protecting the right to be different...all attributes associated with democracy and the United States of America. Our toddler leader accepts our deterioration of all things good with inhumane anticipation and tremendous joy!

I must say, we’ve all been nice to a fault for the past several years while putting-up with his hate, greed, and malicious behavior. We are good, kind parents who have tolerated his tantrums placing all of our hopes of renewal in one tidy basket only to be mystified by the short-comings of our possible lone hero, Robert Mueller. (He should have followed the money trail!) Unfortunately, we’ve learned the hard way that even ‘super heroes’ have their vulnerable, human side.

If we don't shrug-off the mantle of oppression soon and stop the pacification process of 45 and all of his intolerable cronies, 'We the People' will lose the 'Blessings of Liberty' within our lifetime.

Every person I know who possesses a soul and a conscious, is benevolent to a fault, and exercises their rights as a tax-payer and Social Security contributor since their first W-2 job could use a bottle of this elaborate mixture just to get through his or her own daily routine. Certainly, becoming numb to a very bad situation would placate us...temporarily, but the crisis we face under 45’s regime will not go away unless we all do something...now! 

45 will always be the little boy who never received enough love growing-up; the man/boy who’s been given everything (including our exotic elixir of pacification) yet, consistently revels in the fact that there will always be heavy consequences connected to his every action. When you believe the world revolves around you, no elixir (unwritten laws based on basic faith and humanity and honored by good men and women) will be able to subdue the man or a country that remains divided by racism. 

It is taking the break-down of all that we believe in to see that by giving one spoiled, untamed, over-privileged bully maximum power by becoming president, our status of strength and benevolence as a nation is swiftly disappearing. Bullies are easily bribed, manipulated, and driven by the fact that, “If I can, I will.” Bullies enable other bullies. Warning: Great Nations have fallen for much less than this...

Copyright © 2019 by Jacqueline E Hughes

All rights reserved

THE 'TEMPORARY DEMISE' OF GOOD TASTE AND RESPECT

A series of essays....

THE WHITE HOUSE STATE DINING ROOM

   Courtesy, Elle Decor

....as seen through my eyes!

By: Jacqueline E. Hughes

Mary, a Facebook friend of mine, reposted the picture below that was originally from The Guardian with, “This is the first thing you see when you get to hell!” as the headline. I don’t know about you, but knowing that this is the first thing I would see in hell.....Heaven and being a good, kind person has gained even greater mass appeal for me! Yes, despite the memories of years of Parochial school teaching and the enormous effort it took to keep my eyes open during eight o’clock mass each school-day morning! And, I would do it all over again, if not become the white-clad Missionary Sister working and spreading love within a third world country, a phase that struck most of us young, Catholic girls around fourth or fifth grade, in order to avoid this horrific sight anywhere and at all costs.

PRESIDENT LINCOLN LOOKS ON
 IN TOTAL CONFUSION

                  Courtesy, twitter.com

May we take a moment to quickly analyze the ludicrous aspects of this photo, long before it gets committed permanently to my memory? Sorry, too late.

I initially visited the White House in 1989 with my youngest daughter who was a winner in an essay contest sponsored by the California Raisin Advisory Board along with ad promotions by the claymation musical group, The California Raisins, singing “I Heard It Through The Grapevine.” The contest was promoting the health benefits of raisins and why California Raisins were a nutritional powerhouse. The spokesperson appointed by the board to represent them was a sprite and spunky seventeen-year-old by the name of Alyssa Milano.

                   Courtesy, Amazon.com

Besides touring this venerable estate of the people, we spent time in a small, classroom-type setting with Ms. Milano and others as the twelve young essay winners, chosen from across the country, relayed their personal ideas as to the promotion of physical fitness and good eating habits. Their amazing collective ideas, entered into official governmental record, were encouraged to be taken back home to be shared with their school and community, family and peers. It was quite the experience for the kids and all of us parents, alike.

ALYSSA MILANO AS THE TIGER BEAT,
CALIFORNIA RAISIN PINUP

One of the many things we learned on this exciting four-day excursion was the tremendous importance and major responsibility that the people living in this historical home place upon their own shoulders by becoming the President and First Lady of the United States of America. George H. W. Bush presided over our nation at the time of our visit and I, for one, was inspired by a capable and working agenda of a government consisting of and supported by its two political parties. 

The strength, memories, and historical importance of the White House, encouraged by an intellectual powerhouse consisting of respect and collective thoughts, encircled the American people as a whole during the time of our visit. The feeling of hope was tangible in each room we entered and reaffirmed the belief of respect for the Constitution of the United States, as well as the people it helps to guide and protect each day.

Democracy, literally, rule by the people and for the people, is a very beautiful and comforting thing.

When you look at pictures of the State Dining Room you will find George Peter Alexander Healy’s 1869 portrait of Abraham Lincoln. It has occupied a place of honor over the fireplace for many years and depicts Lincoln during the final days of the American Civil War. Tables are set with their finery and used for receptions, luncheons, large formal dinners and state dinners to celebrate and acknowledge visiting chiefs of state on state visits. Mr. Lincoln looks down upon them helping to create a formal elegance that serves to inspire those who have come to participate in the sharing of higher ideals of freedom, the warmth and hospitality of our President, and the willingness to harmoniously work with others around the globe in order to create a better, stronger world at large.

Once again, the current resident of the White House has intentionally decimated the wholesome images created in this formal room that echo the voices of heads of state and heroes at the expense of our most young and talented citizens.

In a gesture of high public esteem for the victory of the Clemson Tigers over Alabama’s Crimson Tide in the National Collegiate Football Championship, the White House has given Honest Abe a whole new dimension of dining to frown down upon within the hallowed walls of the State Dining Room. In a gesture of respect for some of the country’s finest, healthiest young athletes, the current resident in chief has displayed only the finest and healthiest of culinary delights in honor of these young men.

Just kidding...

No amount of twinkling candlelight reflecting off of tall, golden candelabras or masses of silver in the form of elaborate serving trays in every shape and form can camouflage the tackiness and sheer classlessness displayed by a dubious White House leader and carried out by his staff. Cold fast-food burgers, French fries, and soggy pizza greeted our football heroes reflecting a personal bias towards young, successful athletes for whom he aspired to be but failed horribly in his quest.

HEALY'S 1869 PORTRAIT OF
ABRAHAM LINCOLN

                         Courtesy, virginislandsdailynews.com

President Lincoln, looking down from his lofty perch that day, recognized the mindset commensurate with these hard-working, winning young men as they encapsulated his own superior work ethic and ‘mis en place’ status.

In turn, these young men must have, at least, felt the ever-giving strength of Lincoln, the history attributed to this fine, stately room, and the wisdom of our forefathers encompassed within the symbol of one of Democracy’s finest achievements, the White House, and the person who resides there. I pray that all of this given so generously to them via time and history will far outweigh the tiny backslaps accompanied by the rude and ignorant hospitality that was afforded them on their special day of honor at the White House. 

May the future of this country see a kinder, smarter, diplomatic and charismatic, and respectful person presiding over her once again.....soon. We the people deserve it!

PRESIDENT OBAMA'S FINAL STATE DINNER

                   Courtesy, Pinterest

Copyright © 2019 by Jacqueline E. Hughes

All rights reserved