TWO COFFEES AND A DATE WITH JOE

A series of essays.....

VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN
~AMERICAN PROMISE TOUR~

.....as seen through my eyes!

By: Jacqueline E. Hughes

“Let’s try the ramp right across from the Center. It’s still pretty early so....it should be okay.”

“Works for me! The closer the better because it looks like it might rain.”

“No it won’t."

“Look how gray it is. Why would you say that?”

“Because you’re going to carry your umbrella around with you all night long and that, usually, is enough to jinx the rain.”

“Hope you’re right.”

BEAU AND JOE BIDEN

                                        Courtesy: Closer Weekly

“How hungry are you? I mean, we have plenty of time before they even open the outer doors and we could walk anywhere downtown to grab a bite. Personally, I’m not all that hungry.”

“Okay. Here’s Starbucks right in the Grand Bohemian (Hotel) and I’d really like my ‘Dirty Chai’ right now.”

“Well, with a short walk to the Dr. Phillips Center afterward, this is a good idea.’ (Opening the door to the coffee shop)

ANTICIPATING JOE AND
HOST, ELIZABETH VARGAS

“These chairs are very comfortable. Please don’t let me fall asleep....I’ll, probably, snore and embarrass us both!”

“If you drink your double shot espresso chai...I don’t think we’ll have to worry about that. Do you?”

“No, you’re right. I really like this stuff. Sorry I’ve turned into a ‘Dirty Chai’ addict, but this is so yummy! Your ‘Smoked Butterscotch’ smells good, too. (He offers her his cup to take a sip.) That’s good. I thought it would be too sweet. It isn’t at all.”

(Both sit in silence for a moment while observing the two college age women studying together at the opposite end of the long, wooden table the four of them are sharing near the front window of the shop.)

“So, let’s talk about Joe. How political do you think he’s going to be? (He asks, breaking the silence.) I believe most of us in the audience will be hoping for a political rally cry, of sorts, from him. Heck, I’d settle for some truths, common sense, and wisdom right about now.”

“(Closing her eyes) His voice. It’s the tone and sound of his voice for me. (Opening her eyes) Joe is the quintessential voice of reason, true. But, the tone and balance of his soft voice, and how comforting it makes me feel, makes him the quintessential Father, Husband, Grandfather, and.....Friend. I know we could all use a bit of comfort these days.”

“Hope. We could all use a bit of that, too. But, I know what you’re saying. Joe offers a feel-good vibe that resonates with people of all age groups and beliefs. Barack knew what he was doing when he asked Joe to be his running-mate.”

“Two wise, intelligent people working together.....  What are the odds of that ever happening again?”

“It will happen. It has to happen, again. One person can’t alienate an entire country! Can he? There will always be Thinkers and Believers out there to counteract and neutralize what’s happening in Washington today. Let’s just make it to November and we’ll see the difference. We’re already feeling the difference every single day.”

“Maybe Joe will help give us more insight and depth on this....that is, if he gets political. This whole thing is about his late son, Beau, and how family means so much to him. About Joe writing this book and the promise Beau made him commit to before he passed away. I think it’s about youth, too. Not just losing Beau at the young age of forty-six, but, also, losing his wife and young daughter years ago. And yet...he still takes the time to comfort others in time of need. He’s a good man.”

“He is a good man. You mentioned youth. (Taking a moment to take the last swig of his coffee) We’re the ‘old farts’ around now, you know, including Joe. It used to be our grandparents and then our parents and now....it’s us. We always knew it would happen. All of this accumulated knowledge we’ve stored ‘upstairs’ throughout the years isn’t anything to push aside or take lightly. It has to mean something to others.”

“I agree. Try explaining that to our children and grandchildren!” 

(He chuckles out loud) “Don’t know what you’ve got until you lose it, as the old saying goes. But, let’s think in terms of people such as Joe Biden. His accomplishments when dealing with the Ukraine, Central America, and Iraq brought with it a sense of triumph even though he was riddled by heart wrenching pain dealing with Beau’s illness; Beau’s death.”

“I haven’t read his book yet. I wish I had going into this tonight just to gather a bit of insight, if nothing else. But, what I see in Joe is a man who knows, not only the value of his own family and friendships but, the value of our youth and what they have to offer, contribute, and accomplish in terms of creating the balance this country has lost in the past year and so desperately needs, once again. I want to see lots and lots of young people listening to Joe tonight! I need to know that his in-depth knowledge and finesse truly means something to them.”

“I do, too.”

“I don’t think I can drink this whole thing. (Holding her coffee cup at eye level) My tummy has been upset all day.”

“You don’t have to finish it, you know. I hope it’s just ‘minimal crud’ and not the flu. (Placing the back of his hand up to her forehead and smiling) Nope! No fever here.”

“I think its just a busy week to look forward to between writing, writing and posting, cleaning the house, and coming-up with some creative meal ideas.......all before our company arrives on Friday.”

“Hey, don’t worry about the house. (Sliding back his chair to get up) It always looks great and, besides, Jan and Fred are coming to see us, to talk, laugh, and, unfortunately, commiserate with us over the last year of a Trump administration. (Helping her gather her things) Don’t forget your umbrella.”

(Both take a moment to nod their good-byes to their temporary table-mates)

“They opened the front doors about ten minutes ago. Glad we’re so close. (Walking outside) It really has turned out to be a warm, beautiful night in Downtown Orlando! Glad my umbrella is still working! Let’s go people watch while we wait in the lobby. I want to see who’s here to show some respect and love for this amazing man.”

CEILING ABOVE STAGE AT
DOCTOR PHILLIPS CENTER FOR
THE PERFORMING ARTS

THE AUTHOR AND HER BETTER HALF

RIGHT ON TIME!

READY TO BEGIN ~~
IN FRONT OF A PACKED HOUSE

(An hour and fifteen minutes later.....)

“Let me snap a picture of you in front of the building. Thanks. (Stashing her newest i-Phone back into the pocket of her purse) You know what, I just thought of something interesting. You and I have been to the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts twice now. Each time it was to see and listen to a man named Joe.”

“Never thought about that. But, you’re absolutely right! Joe Bonamassa for his amazing musical talents and Joe Biden for his soothing words of wisdom.”

“If things come in threes....what ‘Joe’ is closely associated to the production of Hamilton coming next season? Just hoping, I guess. (Wide smile spreading across her face)

“Well, if I remember my history correctly, Alexander Hamilton did not have a middle name....let alone the nickname of Joe. Sorry.”

(Blending in with the crowd heading back to the parking ramp)

“Elizabeth Vargas asked Joe some great questions and, actually, succeeded in making him cry several times.”

“I agree but, Joe was going to break down no matter what she asked him. I really think she was there to hold his hand along the way. May we never have to endure such personal pain. It was so good to see this graceful, intelligent man on stage who is familiar with the ins and outs of the crazy, mixed-up, world of politics, and knows how to handle all of it so well. I’m not denying he would have made a great President.”

“Crazy thing is, he still could be. You never really know what’s going to happen, as we can attest to with the current White House resident, right? I feel we know a little bit better where Joe stands after tonight. Let’s see, he mentioned Booker, Harris, Murphy, Gillibrand, Cuomo, Klobuchar, and Kennedy, to name a few.....! Heck, I’d like to throw in Rachel Maddow myself.”

“Everything would be explained to us in explicit detail with Rachel at the helm, that’s for sure!”

A BEAUTIFUL EVENING IN ORLANDO

“Even though he mainly focused on what he wrote in Promise Me, Dad, the audience was totally receptive to his implications about running again if need be. Even though his angle was directed towards our young, aspiring politicians, I could almost see the twinkle in his eyes when we enthusiastically clapped over a possible third go at it. I felt he was kind of testing the waters with this book tour.”

“After all....it is called his ‘American Promise Tour!’  Hey, those were pretty great seats I got, right?”

“Good job, Honey.”

(Wrapping her arm around his)

“I was happy to see so many young people here tonight. It makes me feel good to believe that they care enough to get involved and listen to the words of the recent past in order to make a better life for themselves and their families. They must not become complacent about the future....hard work and dedication are critical. Thank you, Sweetheart, for my amazing Christmas gift! I’ll happily remember our coffee and Monday night date with Joe.”

“You’re very welcome. I thought you’d like to listen to him. (Opening the passenger door and taking a bow) Your chariot awaits....”

“Ten minutes drive home and I can kick my shoes off. Hallelujah! A perfect ending to a wonderful evening. And, I get to fall asleep tonight melting into the soft, inspirational words of Joe Biden. A very special night.....”

“And, a dry one. So glad you brought your umbrella!”

                                                   Courtesy: ABC13 Houston

Copyright © 2018 by Jacqueline E. Hughes

All rights reserved

ORLANDO 'BLOOM~ING'

A series of essays.....

.....as seen through my eyes!

"Home. Home tastes like the first bite you take of your favorite dish. You, then, open your eyes to see that family and friends are all seated at your same table."  JEH

By: Jacqueline E. Hughes

Living and working within the sun-drenched, palm trees swaying, culinary delightful, and culturally diverse area that comprises my adopted city of Orlando, Florida, does not come without its many daily challenges, as well as some amazing rewards!

Yes, we have our own 'growing pains' and they can sting us with a preponderance of furor that can be unsettling to the faint of heart yet, curiously, encouraging to those who learn to thrive on overcoming adversity in an attempt to make our tiny 'dot on the map' a better place to live in.

Sitting here in my home office, i-Pad at hand and in the pleasantness of my own home, I feel safe and comfortable. For years I had been what I call a 'commuter warrior!' Joining the thousands of others, I would set-off each morning armed to the teeth with, what I hoped was, armor plating set on wheels, four rubber tires to assist in absorbing the shock of minor road moguls and ruts, tinted glass helping to protect me from the sun's heat and glare, and plenty of hot, black coffee to fortify me until I reached my office. Oh, and did I mention with plenty of A.C. pouring out of the vents with the intent of avoiding possible heat exhaustion while attempting to keep my hairstyle fresh and perky during the forty minute drive into work?

My saving grace: I really, really liked my job!

'THE I-4 CORRIDOR' INTERSECTS CENTRAL
FLORIDA FROM TAMPA TO DAYTONA BEACH

I consider my alternate 'saving grace' was not having to spend too much time along the I-4 Corridor, affectionately known to locals as the I-4 parking lot. Often considered the bane of motorists driving through Orlando, Interstate 4 stretches from I-275 in Tampa to I-95 at Daytona Beach and can be a bit confusing to our out-of-town guests as it maintains a diagonal, northeast-southwest route for much of its length, although it is signed east-west.

I-4 PARKING LOT THROUGH
DOWNTOWN ORLANDO

Throughout my twenty years of living here, I have often believed that my beloved Orlando is as quirky as quirky can be and I don't think I would have it any other way. I truly enjoy living here.

However, as with the changing times happening in our world (our country) today, I liken them to the struggles of our very own Interstate 4: No matter how many engineering improvements take place today, you can count on each one of them being outdated by tomorrow! Whether the excuse is politics, power struggles, lack of insightfulness or funding, we always seem to be one step behind and a day late instead of well ahead of the game.

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS
~BLUE MAN GROUP~

For an area that depends on the reliance of imagination (imagineering) and the enormous amount of tourists it can attract in order to keep our 'La La Land' attractions lucrative, Orlando and the surrounding areas have never been able to keep up with the high-traffic demands placed on our roads and highways. 

It's as though Orlando continues to operate ten years in the past with regards to its infrastructure in ratio to the permanent residents it has attracted via employment opportunities, especially within the medical profession. Add in the influx of tourism in this area, and you now have a recipe for transportation chaos and ongoing nightmares.

GAVIN & BRENNA ABOUT TO BOARD
ORLANDO'S SUNRAIL

Adding SunRail, Orlando's commuter rail line, several years ago, represents exciting new travel for locals traveling to and from work, dining, and shopping. SunRail now runs from the town of DeBary north of Orlando to Sand Lake Road and the attractions of International Drive located on the south-west side of the city, with expansions of the rail projected in the near future.

Despite everything in its way, the Orlando area has certainly bounced back with a flourish after the economic recession beginning in 2008. She keeps attracting tourists from all over the world as judged by the air traffic associated with the Orlando International Airport (MCO) as being not only the busiest airport in Florida, but the thirteenth-busiest airport in the United States.

FOUNTAIN LOCATED IN ORLANDO'S BEAUTIFUL
HARRY P. LEU GARDENS

Speaking as a local, I will be the first to tell you that I agree with the fact that the, nothing less than, sketchy driving rituals of many of our tourists leave numerous safety habits to be desired! From International Drive to all of the attractions on the west-side of Orlando and heading east towards Cocoa Beach and the Kennedy Space Center, tourists abound, twelve months out of the year. So, we locals do learn to adjust, look out for the 'other guy,' and hope for the best while navigating to and from work, shopping, or play.

Now, let's get off of the streets, park our vehicles, and have a look around at our fair city dubbed, The City Beautiful. 

We are a good-sized city with a population of around 1,998,000 souls living within close proximity to one another and, like all major cities, we have our share of crime, homeless citizens, and (sadly) a terrorist act that devastated the world let alone our close-knit community. Pulse Nightclub was horrendously attacked last year on June12, 2016, and was the scene of a mass shooting killing forty-nine people and injuring fifty-three.

I apologize. That was not the 'upper' story I had intended to tell. However, the event at Pulse Nightclub is a fact and has been written down in the history books as the scene of the deadliest mass shooting by a single gunman in U.S. history. We will never forget our fallen heroes.....

THE CITY BEAUTIFUL

Fun history fact: According to Neil J. Young in his blog entitled, Public Seminar, the nickname of The City Beautiful dates back to at least 1908 when local officials borrowed it from the "City Beautiful" urban planning movement transforming places like Cleveland, Detroit, and Denver. In those cities, progressive city planners designed parks, museums, and public plazas to beautify and organize the urban landscape. In Orlando, a rural cow town at the time, City Beautiful represented something different, an aspiration rather than a reality. A hope that the small assortment of ranchers and citrus growers could one day develop into a full-fledged city.

Orlando is the home of the University of Central Florida, UCF, an American metropolitan public research university. It's diverse student enrollment currently stands at over 63,000. The university opened the UCF College of Medicine in 2006 and it is one of the first U.S. medical schools in decades to be built from the ground up. The college is a founding member of Orlando's growing Medical City at Lake Nona.

Rollins College, located in Winter Park, is the alma mater of Fred Rogers, the noted figure on the Public Broadcasting Station (PBS) who is best known for creating the educational preschool television series, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, which featured his kindhearted, gentle, soft-spoken personality. 

STROLLING AROUND ROLLINS COLLEGE

Rollins College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college in Winter Park, situated along the shores of Lake Virginia. The small campus defines Southern charm between its architecture and moss-draped live oak trees, to the boardwalk that meanders the shoreline of the lake. This has been a special place for us to take our own visitors to for a slow-paced afternoon walk, a visit to the Cornell Fine Arts Museum, or a current production by students and staff being performed at the Annie Russell Theatre on campus.

Ethnic restaurants abound in Orlando, the surrounding area, as well as in the theme parks themselves. With our current emphasis on eating fresh, eating healthy, many local chefs gear their menus toward seasonal choices of locally grown fruits and vegetables, grass-fed meats, fresh non-farmed fish, and desserts that guarantee not to enlarge the waistline. Season's 52 is a prime example of eating well, eating healthy.

HEALTHY SELECTIONS AT SEASONS 52

In addition to the many themed attractions located on International Drive, such as WonderWorks (the upside down building) to Ripley's Believe It Or Not, eating tapas delights at Cafe Tu Tu Tango to juicy steaks at Charley's Steak House, this is a great spot to spend time at. Comedy Clubs, shopping, and catching your favorite movie are adventures available along this very busy, exceptionally touristy, location.

Yes! We do have our very own Orlando Eye that was completed in 2015! We have yet to venture high above the maddening crowd in one of its suspended, swinging boxcars....by choice. This may be something we will gladly scootch over and allow the tourists to enjoy all on their own!

THE ORLANDO EYE

I haven't even gotten to the topic of sports and entertainment yet. What was I thinking? In addition to our football stadium, which tends to change its name every few years or so, Orlando is proud of its new soccer team, Orlando City Soccer Club, who recently opened their brand new stadium located downtown. Nearby, The Orlando Magic live and play basketball in their own 'new house,' the Amway Center, which often hosts live entertainment performances, as well.

My favorite addition to the newly blossoming Orlando scene is located just across I-4 from the Amway Center and, in my estimation, is the crown jewel of the entire City Beautiful. Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts looks as stunning in the mid-day Floridian sunshine as it does all dressed-up in a myriad of bright lights in the nighttime! Stage, acoustics, lighting, sound....all based on perfection on the inside. I was fortunate to have experienced the amazing sounds of Joe Bonamassa, the great American Blues and Rock guitarist, here within the first year of the Center's Grand Opening which was on November 6, 2014.

A 'GEM' IN THE HEART OF ORLANDO
DR. PHILLIPS CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

Well, there you have it, my home in this moment and time. A place I have grown to love, hate, feel sad for, happy to be a part of, and always, always, delighted to have my own, small niche in for the past twenty years. 

Sure, we've been scared as hell by numerous hurricanes along the way. We've had to say good-bye to our daughter and her beautiful family when the four of them moved up to Michigan a few years ago to begin a new life. In our forty-three years of marriage, this has been the longest time Dan and I have settled down in any one location. Orlando has, truly, become 'Home' to us.

Since our future appears to be heading back up north to be closer to family and friends, my life will be changing once again. Will I be ready for the change? I certainly hope so. Until then, I will continue to enjoy every aspect of my adopted hometown of Orlando and, like observing a small child, continue to marvel at how it has grown-up these past twenty years.....right before my very eyes!

Copyright © 2017 by Jacqueline E. Hughes

All rights reserved

THE COLOR OF TIME

 A series of essays.....

Waiting For The Magic To Happen.....!

.....as seen through my eyes!

By: Jacqueline E. Hughes



Waking-up in the morning, I wonder....and, attempt to recreate in my mind all of the colors that I thought about, dreamt about while I slept.  Those swirling, magnificent shades of blue and green, with reds that range from 'Valentine's Day Bright' to the fading beauty of a deep, dusty rose.  The blacks.  The whites.  The various shades of gray.

Amazing, glorious color continues to guide me through the day acting as 'trigger mechanisms' releasing the flow of energy, imagination, if you will, that guides my actions and intentions while fueling the desire to be a fully functional and creative human being. 

Color creates moods; color changes moods.  Color evokes memories and, in turn, produces responses from those memories.  Yet, color is timeless. Color is ageless.  It can be yesterday, today or tomorrow and ebb and flow offering irregular outlines that shift like the seas with the tide.

Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts

Color bounces off of solid surfaces, as does light and sound, within its epic lifetime journey and is refracted through a variety of eyes.  How often have you been asked the simple question, what is your favorite color, and hesitate...for a moment, because it's difficult to say just one?  Or, are you enamored of one solid contender?  I have to stop and think each time this question is posed because the lofty blue of the sky might be calling me that particular day...or, forty shades of green are pulling at my heart strings right then or, I am remembering the multiple shades of 'all colors' and 'lack of color' that pronounced my recent dream; the black, white and grays that surround my nocturnal existence.  It is difficult to choose.



This past Tuesday evening my husband and I were blown-away by the Blues/Rock-and-Roll musician, Joe Bonamassa, when he performed in concert at the newly opened Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Orlando.  This master guitarist and songwriter performed with two bands, one acoustic and one electric, while showcasing his unique style of European influenced blues.  This magnificent entertainment  was a treat for the senses!  A sterling performance encompassing guitar perfection (at least eight acoustic and an equal amount of electric guitars were played by him) meshed with a dynamic percussion presentation that was beyond my wildest imagination. 




With not a still body in sight, we swooned, clapped, whooped and fell wantonly under the spell cast by the primal rhythms and musical beats that surrounded us under a velvety cloak of bliss.  The stage rolled and swayed from the weight of such unmitigated talent.  The bright lights enveloping all of us sprayed beams of rich, warm color all around the room as they danced rhythmically with the primal beat set-forth by Bonamassa and his band. 

Soft, powdery blues mixed with powerful beams of bright white light spotlighted Joe and turned the stage into an extraterrestrial-like encounter as this eclectic mixture of talented musicians delivered a gorgeously textured, unplugged experience.  At one point, the white illumination resembled sailing ships carrying the music across an imaginary sea and back to Europe, the place which lent its vintage flair to the acoustic blues set.

Like Ships Out At Sea......

The influences behind his second set, with a shift into electronic mode, introduced power in the form of giant beams of red, orange, gold and clean white lights illuminating the band and audience alike.  The capacity to help influence the behavior of others is often emphasized by the use of strong colors and light. It certainly worked for me!

 

Rock-and-Roll

Electronic Mode

Acoustic

Thank you, Joe Bonamassa!!!

Color does evoke memories, some pleasant, others not.  I have mentioned several times before how the deep, luscious reds of velvety rose petals call to mind my Mother's lips.....stained 'happy' for a night out on the town.  I could never pull-off wearing red lipstick for some reason.  Maybe my smile requires a deep shade of pink in order to be effective?  And, a pale mint color reminds me of a baby's layette with sweet thoughts of my youngest brother, Dennis, when he was brought home from the hospital swaddled in this soft shade of green.  Both of my girls wore an ample amount of pale green as babies because of the good feeling it elicited within me. 

I often wore pink growing-up.....and, not always by my choice.  Mom said the color appealed to my skin tone and complimented a slightly ruddy (interesting color word), deep skin shade which reminds me now of my Father.  Ahh!  Shades of pink: Blush, rose fuscia, magenta!  All shades that were memorably worn by my bridesmaids and flower girl in my wedding so long ago!  Today, pink remains such a forgiving color for me....

Yellow.  No.  I really don't know why!  Funny how some colors just do not penetrate the heart.  Maybe someday I will figure this one out!

Blue and every shade of blue imaginable....speaks to me with such power, liberation and sweet contentment.  I am reminded of vacations spent walking the beach for hours upon hours and staring out at the sea, so vast and powerful.  I am standing under a sky so blue it actually hurts my eyes in all its cloudless wonder.  Provençal blue pots containing massive varieties of flowers with colors and scents that overload the senses with their unabashed assaults always decorate my world. 

It is the deepest, darkest blue known to mankind and brings me under its spell, wraps me around its finger and takes my breath away.  It boggles my mind and captures my heart so completely each and every time I see it.  My mood improves just thinking about it.  I know that I am a better person because of it!  I am looking into my children's eyes....my beautiful daughters.  Pools of blue so deep and reflective that it's possible to dream only good thoughts and imagine a positive future within their cool depths.  This blue helps to keep me grounded and always continues to define me in so many constructive ways!

The color of time is a personal journey into the unknown where patches of glorious pigment, real or imagined, adhere to us like neon-bright 'sticky notes' providing directions (good/bad) and inspiration along the way.  We cannot ignore its presence; we can only acknowledge its existence and run with it.  Like a creative adjective, color modifies time and gussies-up our short life spans as we continue to plod along our individual paths.  Color gives us the power to change our world!

What is your favorite color?

Do colors affect your mood?

What is your least favorite color?




Copyright © 2014 by Jacqueline E. Hughes
All rights reserved