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

CHRISTOPHER MCCANDLESS SYNDROME.....OR NOT?

 A series of short stories.....

The Magic Bus of Christopher McCandless

.....as seen through my eyes!

By: Jacqueline E. Hughes

I have often speculated as to just what it is that pulls each one of us in certain directions throughout our lives whether it be work related or, simply, pleasure oriented.  And, I might mention here that I am exceedingly happy for all of you who have successfully been able to combine the two scenarios......for you are the fortunate ones!

"You must have ants in your pants!  Why can't you just sit still?"  How many times did I hear my beautiful Mother say these words to me?  It was a foregone conclusion that those afore mentioned ants would segue into the reality of being antsy, a word that has described my personality for years.  It would show in the 'need to be anywhere else other than where I was at that moment' to, physically doing the opposite of what was expected of me to, after owning our first home, needing to rearrange the furniture as often as possible. 

One thing I always knew about myself was that by placing my feelings and ideas into written words, my journals and notes helped to soothe a restless soul....release anxieties and frustrations.  Like the drummer in a rock band, my keyboard (pen or pencil) was my trusty drumstick beating out a song of highly sustained rhythm in the hopes of attaining total freedom.

Leo Tolstoy

All of these current thoughts surfaced this week due to a quote from Christopher McCandless which went, "Happiness, only real when shared."  His journals claim that he was in reference to a passage from a novella written by Leo Tolstoy published in 1859 and entitled Family Happiness.  A passage from this novella is quoted in the book, Into the Wild, written by Jon Krakeuer in 1996 about the travels of Christopher McCandless into the wilderness of Alaska, and adapted into a film of the same name by Sean Penn in 2007.  Both book and movie involved the life of this young man who had rejected civilization and openly relished 'survival mode' in a remote area of Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska in April of 1992.

Another quote from the works of Leo Tolstoy and found highlighted by Chris went, "I wanted movement and not a calm course of existence.  I wanted excitement and danger and the chance to sacrifice myself for my love.  I felt in myself a superabundance of energy which found no outlet in our quiet life." 

This is an example of how strong the shear power of the written word can be, especially with regards to Chris McCandless, (also known by his alter ego, Alexander Supertramp).  Chris was found starved to death in an abandoned bus he called home and weighing only sixty-seven pounds.  How does Chris relate to Leo Tolstoy?  According to Wikipedia, "An extremely intense young man, McCandless had been captivated by the writings of Leo Tolstoy.  He particularly admired the fact that the great novelist had forsaken a life of wealth and privilege to wander among the destitute."  For several years, he had been emulating (Tolstoy's) asceticism and moral rigor to a degree that astonished and alarmed those who knew him well.




Chris McCandless in Alaska ~
Courtesy of Wikipedia

Many of Chris' actions were inspired by literature.  When he was found in the bus in Alaska, he had in his possession five heavily marked-up books written by Jack London, a writer known for stories about the wilderness, Individualism and Naturalism.  Henry Thoreau, a writer who was known for his philosophy of Transcendentalism (living life to its fullest in order to understand life), was a philosophy in which Chris adopted as his own.  Including Tolstoy, "These authors played an integral role in developing Chris' personality and, if it weren't for the presence of his literary heroes during the time he grew-up and the last days of his life, Christopher McCandless would not have died at peace with himself."

 

 

I truly believe Chris died as he had lived....at peace with himself and with nature.

I'm not saying that I need to "live off the land" by hunting wildlife and scrounging for wild berries to make-up my next meal and sustain me.  I can relate, however, with the general philosophy of appreciating the 'fruits' of this magnificent planet, as well as the incomparable beauty it showers down upon us via its valleys, mountains, flowers and rivers!  Like Chris, Jack, Henry and Leo, I seek the power captured within just one grain of sand; admire an Irish hillside lush with 'forty shades of green' and alive with sheep as far as the eye can see; relish the simplicity of routinely walking to the Boulangerie to purchase the daily bread (baguette) and, marvel at the pure solitude of a wooded walk on a gloriously sunny afternoon in September with a good book in hand.

Nature and literature speak to me every single day.  If I am not capturing nature in pictures in one moment, you can be certain I am writing (or reading) about it instead. 

Ireland 2013

Christopher McCandless, it was later determined, was slowly poisoned and became paralyzed by eating massive amounts of toxic wild-potato seeds in an attempt to survive but it rendered him unable to hunt or forage.  Irony at its darkest point.  It was not arrogance that killed this lovely, open-hearted young man, it was ignorance.  I refused to believe that anyone who became known for saying that the happiness we enjoy in this lifetime is meant to be shared with others could possibly be suicidal. "I've decided I am going to live this life for some time to come.  The freedom and simple beauty is just too good to pass up."  This was a man who openly relished the gifts of nature that surrounded him and whose order of the day was to live life to its fullest.

The History Channel on cable television has highlighted many of these 'maverick' individuals, men and woman, who share the love of nature along with Chris McCandless.  Mountain Men, airing on Sunday evenings, is my favorite by far.  Haven't we all wanted to explore the far reaches of the Alaskan wilderness, implement the ancestral techniques for tanning hides in northwestern Montana or learn wilderness survival skills in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina?  Marty, Tom and Eustace have guided my 'alter ego' through the natural beauty of the rugged lands they call 'Home' and I always hunger to learn more!

Literature can invariably play the role of guide, trapper, teacher and friend as we discover, via the written word, worlds far beyond our own reach and imaginations.  Books transport their readers through time and space......as we explore the realities of history and speculate about the possibilities of co-habitation on other planets.  When a subject arises, you can bet that someone has written about it at one time or another.

I have not seen Sean Penn's movie about the life and death of Christopher McCandless.  Someday, perhaps, I will.




River in Oughtergard, Ireland

Until then, you will always find me with a book in my hand and the idea that this busy world will slow down just long enough to allow me to read a chapter or two at a time.  Or, maybe take a few interesting photographs with my trusty Canon EOS.  And, when the opportunity to travel to places unknown to me arises, I will explore, discover and write about each and every adventure with the desire to sooth my restless soul while discovering freedom and the happiness within me that only becomes real when shared with others.
I leave you with one of my favorite quotes by an unsettled, young man whose love of nature combined with a heart that was wide-open to all of life's possibilities left us far too soon......

"The core of man's spirit comes from new experiences. If you want something in this life, reach out and grab it.”
― Christopher McCandless

Chris in the Wilds of Alaska ~ Courtesy of Outside Magazine

Copyright © 2014 By Jacqueline E. Hughes
All rights reserved