SIMPLE PLEASURES AND LITTLE RITUALS

A series of essays....

A BOUNTY OF LAVENDER HARVESTED
FROM MY FRONT YARD GARDEN

....as seen through my eyes!

By: Jacqueline E Hughes

As I sit in my writing space these days contemplating life while the scientists and scholars diligently work on a vaccine for COVID-19, I attempt to determine how most of us are coping with all of the ramifications surrounding this deadly virus. It’s been interesting listening to our ideas and observing our actions of the past several months as individuals and in group meetings via the Internet.

Most of my findings have determined that while many of us believe we are leaping forward in order to progress one or two steps ahead of the coronavirus race, we may actually be falling back, making time to listen to our hearts, and enjoying life even more.

I am speaking solely for myself when I say that it’s been an amazing journey these past several months rediscovering life’s simplest pleasures and remembering, if not creating, little daily rituals that may help to turn the world right-side up, even for a moment at a time.

Because it would be wasteful not to recognize the little things in life that make us happy, that put smiles on our faces, and accounts for that new zing in our step, I’ve found it helpful to record these instances in order to look back on them again and again. Many of these things would have been, in normal times, just checked-off on a long list of ‘things to do’ and not appreciated enough for all of the long, hard work that went into them. 

LAVENDER PLANTS KEEPING
THE BEES BUSY 

For example: Securing a pair of garden shears and a bamboo tray I stepped out to my front yard lavender garden to harvest the summer yield of flowers to be hung and dried indoors. I had fun doing a feisty little dance with the beautiful bees who lay claim to the little garden and have been spreading lavender nectar far and wide for weeks. Hopefully my neighbors enjoyed the up, down, sidestep, back-off, do-si-do dance moves displayed because of my innate fear of being stung!

THE JOY OF THE LAVENDER HARVEST

So intrigued by the various processes it takes to dry the ‘little bundles’ of lavender for future use in sachets and a multitude of recipes I make, I decided to write a poem for poetry class entitled Creating Little Rituals that includes this enjoyable task as one of my simple pleasures in life.

Creating Little Rituals

can turn the world right-side up, even 

for a moment, make sense from nonsense, 

retain a semblance of sanity within a 

chaotic world. Rise by six. Back

to bed by ten and love thy neighbor

in between, or so the story goes.

Anticipating the right moment to

harvest the lavender; creating purple

nosegays to hang from a kitchen beam

to dry, hand hewn from a straight and

sturdy tree, to be marveled at 

while sipping morning coffee at seven.

Step on a crack and break your brother’s

back; a wicked ‘little pleasure’ designed 

to appease a younger sister’s spirit and retain

her sanity. Relinquishing control as you slip 

into your lover’s warm embrace while blissful 

sleepiness soon quells the pandemonium of a 

long day. You might sit in easy pose and 

contemplate your aching muscles, age, before 

meditating. But your green cushion has disappeared 

and that’s simply the way life goes.

By: Jacqueline Hughes, 7/12/20

LITTLE NOSEGAYS HANGING FROM
THE KITCHEN BEAM

When you practice mindfulness you practice love. When you become aware of the multiple sounds and sights that surround you as you diligently wait to be released out into the wild, once again...you are practicing mindfulness. Listen to the individual songs of birds while sitting on the deck and you become one with nature. I find innocent joy in hearing the distinct rattle of the golf clubs in someone’s bag as he is walking to find his golf ball three fairways away and then, with eyes closed, picture him setting up to take his second shot. 

Be reminded of the little rituals we find comfort in. It may be reading a book to your child before bed, kissing them sweetly, and then turning off their light. Or, taking your dog for a long walk around the neighborhood after dinner, waving to neighbors at a distance, and marveling at the colorful flowerbeds that mark their hard work and dedication to beauty.

We can all nourish our souls by converting everyday routines into blessed rituals that can help heal our feeling of isolation and our struggle to find a purpose needed to retain emotional well-being in this era of coronavirus.

A LARGE PUZZLE IN THE ROOM

BEGINNING TO PUT THE
PUZZLE PIECES TOGETHER

My husband has come to the completion of our new living room bookshelves that look nothing short of amazing! He has spent hours figuring out the math, painting, constructing, securing, and marveling at how nicely they fit along a 13-foot expanse of plaster wall that was created sometime in 1941. He has found immense joy in doing what he knows best. I am so proud of him and delighted with the outcome.

After unloading 24 boxes filled with books that lived in the basement for almost two years, I became acutely aware of the feel of each book, the hours of one’s lifetime spent in its creation, the various authors I’ve devoted much of my reading life to, the separation of genre and how each book would fill in the spaces selected for their new life in this old house within this next phase of our lives. 

My old friends, gifts for my soul, once again surround me with their own stories, their colorful coats (jackets), while new friends sit staring out into the room and imploring me to read them next. Our 13-foot wall has become a grand piece of artwork that draws my eyes to each fine detail and begs me to run a finger down each spine while reading a title that takes me into another place and time.

THE FINISHED PROJECT

EACH SHELF IS LOVINGLY FILLED WITH OLD AND NEW FRIENDS!

Employing little rituals will help us get through this. Let’s face it...we’ve come a long way through thick and thin and, come hell and high water, I know we can ride this one out even if all it takes is becoming more aware of the simple life and routines already happening around us. When all is said and done, falling back into the total awareness of life’s simple pleasures may just be our saving grace and lead us in the right direction towards coping with our new lifestyle and the healing of our souls..

Please wear a mask anytime you are not at home or walking your dog around the neighborhood! Our lives depend on it.

Copyright © 2020 by Jacqueline E Hughes

All rights reserved

Photos Copyright © 2020 by Jacqueline E Hughes

All rights reserved

THE INTERESTING THINGS WE DO THAT MAKE US WHO WE ARE

A series of essays.....

Idiosyncrasy From A Writer's Perspective

.....as seen through my eyes!


By: Jacqueline E. Hughes


Let's be totally honest here and admit to just how annoying we can sometimes be to others who often must cope with the idiosyncrasies that help develop the individual beings that we are.

If I'd asked for a show of hands in response to my honesty and placed myself in a large room, let's say filled with one hundred people.....I would have both of my arms raised and all ten fingers proudly pointing towards the acoustic ceiling! I've never been very good at math and percentages so, I really don't know why I filled the room with all these people.  But, my point is, some of my habits do occasionally annoy others. And, I know I do not stand alone here so, as you continue reading this, please feel free to acknowledge some of your own.




Jack LaLanne
Picture Courtesy: teamlalanne.org

I'm not entirely sure but, I think it all began when I was around three or four years old and a playmate told me that if I were to step on any crack on the sidewalk, I would actually contribute to breaking my dear Mother's back.....somehow. At this age, logic, reason and sound judgment, tends to fly right out of the window. Maybe this cryptic message was initiated by the likes of Jack LaLanne, a popular American fitness guru, in order to promote excessive movement or exercise in the very young! His teaching was considered ahead of the times when his television show first ran back in 1953. While my Mother was striking her best 'Glamour Stretcher' pose and perspiring in our living room in front of a grey-n-black, jumpsuited image of Jack on the small screen, I was out doing the 'bunny hop' along our front sidewalk with panic and fear tucked away in my heart.

Picture Courtesy: teamlalanne.org



Movie Night

Not every irritating regimen we concoct for ourselves is based in superstition. Dan and I have been doing this one for years now, ever since we began dating. No, not going where you think it is...... We happen to remain in the theater after a movie in order to look at every last credit that scrolls down on the Big Screen!! Yep! That would be us standing by our seats all alone in the eerie darkness as the house lights slowly come back on and the theater staff is seen scraping Jujubes off the natty, red cloth seats and sweeping up tons of spilled popcorn. Their rubber-soled sneakers become suctioned to the concrete floor by the sugary residue of every variety of soda pop known to mankind. Years ago, they used to wait to 'do their thing' until the credits were over. Today we must stand, eventually showered in bright lights, squinting at the fading screen in order to acknowledge all of the people responsible for the production of the film; this is our personal homage to so much talent and hard work behind the scenes.

"Rites of Passage"
Picture Courtesy: www.mlive.com

Do any of you recall walking in the halls before classes began in high school? What exactly were we thinking with this one? We were either showing off our new outfits and hair styles, majorly flirting with a particular someone every ten-minute round trip or, attempting to control a massive amount of teenage hormones (this would revert back to the flirting) and excess energy before having to sit for one-hour increments all day long in class. I don't believe we were necessarily irritating to the teachers....many of them did stand in their doorways just moving their heads from side-to-side and smiling. Most of us chalked-up their body language to wishing they were young and free again and never gave a second thought to just how absurd we all must have looked. To this day I wonder how many other schools held this ritualistic practice each morning. Maybe they still do for all I know. Anyway, for now, let's chalk it up to the 'rites of passage.'

Why do drivers leave ten car lengths between themselves and the car in front of them as they wait for the light to turn green? Why do families of five or more walk side-by-side at a theme park stretching out like cut-out paper dolls holding hands and taking up vast swaths of real estate while in this strategic dodge-ball formation? Who ever thought that applying make-up to one's face while maneuvering a multi-ton, moving vehicle down the highway was appropriate, necessary or SAFE? Wait a minute.... I get it. These come under the heading of "pet peeves" and will have to wait for another story and another time. Sorry about that.

We are special. We are all unique. Life itself is fantastic at any age and everything we do as loving, living beings does not require a thirty page instruction manual written in multiple languages. Sometimes we just need a little motivation to bring out the best in us. Often it's a simple matter of recharging our batteries for an extra boost of power. Spontaneity is one of my favorite words and a guideline for life and long lasting happiness.  Making plans is emphasized when your certain flight to 'somewhere' leaves on a predetermined schedule. When you arrive at your destination, be spontaneous, uninhibited and open for everything that comes your way. Sadly, spontaneity itself can feel quite strange for many people.

Turboprop Aircraft

Speaking of planes, I do have another superstitiously oriented ritual that I have performed since my very first commercial flight when I was sixteen-years-old. I was on my own and leaving out of the South Bend International Airport in Indiana on a 'tree hopper' business flight to Indianapolis. It was a turboprop plane carrying over twenty passengers and crew, as I recall, and could fly at a lower cruising altitude which lent itself to the short distance we had to travel.

My flight was scheduled to leave at eight o'clock in the morning but it looked dubious because of the thick, low fog cover that blanketed the area. I admit to being surprised and slightly apprehensive when we were told we could now board the plane. I couldn't see my hand in front of me as I walked out onto the tarmac being urged along by the stewardess/flight attendant pointing towards the movable stairs temporarily attached to the side of the aircraft. By the time I made it to the top step, practically feeling my way up as if I were blind, and before entering the doorway, I reached out to touch an outside panel of the plane with my right hand pressed flat, fingers splayed.

By now my hand was cold and wet. I kept it there long enough to say a short prayer to my angels and ask them to guide us to Indianapolis in one piece, much to the dismay of the remaining passengers bottle-necked behind me and clinging to the rickety railing for support in the fog. I was definitely a hindrance to their progress but, by the time I flung myself through the arched doorway and was greeted by another stewardess and one of the pilots, I was feeling much more at peace with my current situation. 



Flight instrumentation is truly a wonderful thing, isn't it? Within moments we lifted off into the thick, gray mist and became airborne! Holding my breath as I clutched the seat cushion beneath me, I realized I was staring through the cockpit of the plane and right out of the windshield into the clouds that enveloped us. Having allowed the cockpit doors to remain open for take-off, I was rewarded with a pilot's panoramic view of this soft, gray world as we slowly climbed higher.


It was mere moments of amazement before the actual miracle took place.....  Suddenly, as though the plane's propellers had teamed-up to push the mist away, our little plane poked its nose right through the cloud cover and Heaven opened-up all around us! The strikingly blue of the morning sky was so intense it was what I now refer to as "hurt my eyes..beautiful."  The rays of the rising sun sent shards of golden light piercing through the rolling white sea that stretched out beneath us and refracted off of the metallic fuselage and wings of our little aircraft. I was not alone. Nothing could be that potent and so beautiful that one could ever feel alone. Whenever asked, "Where did you find your wonderment?" I would have to say, as a young woman, aged sixteen, discovering the Heavens for the very first time.

From that morning on I have honored this maiden voyage of mine into that majestic 'unknown' by touching the plane before every flight I take. And.....I always will!






Blessed Holy Week and Easter Sunday

Copyright © 2015 by Jacqueline E. Hughes
All rights reserved

FIFTY SHADES OF BLUE

A series of essays.....

Fireball Sinking Into The Horizon

.....as seen through my eyes!

By: Jacqueline E. Hughes


"Gwandma, Grandma, Gamma......I love you!" floated across the cavernous space of the airport as the sound of small, sneaker-clad feet bounded rhythmically across the cold, cement floor. 

Funny how time has a way of seamlessly slipping away, dispersing its holy 'granules of life' throughout the autumn landscape.

For ten days of my life I mingled with family and long, lost friends in a place that existed long, long ago and far, far away.  My mind recalls teenage dates, walking hand-in-hand in Bronson Park, eating post-movie meals at fast food places along South Westnedge Avenue before heading home to Three Rivers.  Now, my children inhabit this place of my youth and I visit Kalamazoo, Michigan for very different reasons.

Last Glimpse

The precious endearments floating up to my ears at this moment emanate from Brenna and Gavin.  They have accompanied me and their parents to the Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids to see me off on my flight back to Orlando where their Papa will be waiting to drive me home.  It's been an interesting week for me....chock-full of revelations!  But, another time and story for you....a bit later.

"Ma'am, please collect all of your belongings and follow me over to this table, please."  I knew I shouldn't have brought that can of Healthy Valley organic lentil soup back in my carry-on!!  Sure enough, 'the can' was his targeted item.  After shaking it, swabbing it for negative residues, shaking it again and, finally excusing himself to have a petite chat with his supervisor....I was given possession of the soup once more.  Yeah, a lunch for the following week had not been confiscated!

I have often sat at Gate A3 awaiting my Allegiant flight to the Sanford Airport.  And, I am positive there will be many more times for me sitting at this Gate in the future.  We've flown Allegiant, a direct two hour plus flight from Michigan back to Florida, so often that I affectionately call it my 'bus ride' home.  When it is a smooth ride and I have a good book in hand, I can almost blink and the wheels are touching down onto the Sanford tarmac. 



Blue So Bright.....!

Like a small child, I always prefer the scenic luxury of a window seat.  Judging by the clear, blue sky and the promise of beautiful weather, my particular window would be facing an autumn sunset soon to appear across the vast horizon.  I was delighted by this prospect. 

Navigating the corrugated bumps and turns of the jet bridge leading out to our plane, I stopped for just a moment, placed my flattened right hand on the outside of the plane just to the right of the door, silently recited a 'little prayer' to my angels and proceeded to push my meager belongings up into the craft to take my seat. 

"You have your own little ritual when it comes to flying, don't you?" she asked, looking straight into my eyes.  Surrounded by anywhere from four crew members, including the pilot, and boarding passengers ahead of and behind me, I looked-up into her startling green eyes as she stood planted between cockpit and galley.  Looking back over my shoulder at her, the 'moment' resembled a movie scene where the camera pulls back from above the action creating a 'fish bowl' effect and the main character is highlighted by an aura of bright light.

Seldom one to stammer or stumble over my words.....there I was, a bumbling fool attempting a response. 

"You..you..saw me..touch..touch the plane?" 

"Oh, yes," she replied.  "And, I understood immediately what you were doing.  I watch and listen...."

(I kid you not....people, and this all confused me because I began doing this little ritual my very first commercial airline flight as a young teenager! This was the first time ANYONE has ever said anything to me about it!)

"But..but..you are the only one who has ever...ever seen me do it!" I squeaked with my neck still turned at an odd angle looking at her enlightened face. 

Never missing a beat or taking her gaze away from mine she said, "Not necessarily, however, I might be the only one who has ever mentioned it to you before." 

As the camera lens zoomed back in and her aura dissipated, her smile spread wide across her pretty face.  She raised two fingers of her right hand in an apparent 'peace symbol V' formation and then slowly turned her wrist bringing her fingers in line with her own eyes.  With a quick turn of her wrist, she aimed her fingertips in my direction saying, "I am watching and I see everything....that is what I do.  That is my job....!"

As the momentum of my fellow boarding passengers carried me further down the aisle, I looked back one last time to see the flight attendant happily into her 'meet and greet' with those behind me.

Hoisting my little, purple suitcase above Row 15 and taking my seat by the window, I wasn't sure if I'd just experienced a highly spiritual encounter with supernatural forces affecting my spirit...my soul.  Or, if this was the work of a tiny prankster who was either getting into her Halloween mode or practicing for future employment with Southwest Airlines!!  What I did realize was that this petite employee of Allegiant Airlines called me out on a private ceremony I'd been performing for years.  She was not malicious or cruel...rather, honest and forthright about it.  Whatever the explanation, this occurrence really blew me away!

Stowing my purse below the seat in front of me and buckling-up for the flight, my seat mate and I greeted each other, acknowledged one another's reading material with a mutual nod as she kindly inquired if I would like my overhead light turned-on, as well.  Nestling back in a feeble attempt to find comfort in an airline seat, I couldn't help but notice the aged gentleman seated in the center seat in front of us, 14E.  Due to our close proximity and the open angled line of view afforded me, I could see that he was old, cantankerous and, after listening to the conversation with his wife/companion seated directly in front of me....I concluded that he might be suffering with dementia. 

"Where are we now?" he wailed like a young child.  Patting his hand, she responded, "Grand Rapids." 

"What??  When will this thing take-off?  I'm tired of sitting here doing nothing!"

With the patience of a saint, the woman continued to pat his hand until she gave it a gentle squeeze while resting it comfortably on top if his.  He calmed down immediately and settled back, eyes closed.

Picture Courtesy of Greg Spurgeon

Within a few minutes our plane was airborne and we were surrounded by a clear blue sky the shade of peace, serenity, infinity and spirituality itself!  This vision of calmness personified soon took on an ethereal quality, as well when the setting sun, ablaze with shades of gold, bright tangerine and red, pierced the horizon and set the world outside of the small, square window on fire!  As the 'fireball' swiftly sank out of sight, the intensity of color deepened affording all of us fortunate enough to be seated on the right side of the plane a panoramic view of brightening stars along with a crescent-shaped moon dangling within a blanket of deep, deep blue...!  The shade of blue that evokes a deep-seeded feeling of trust, dignity and super intelligence.

The entire world around me was changing, ebbing and flowing like a crystal blue river dancing in the moonlight.  It was enchanting and we sat totally mesmerized by God's ultimate light show in the heavens.  Yes, thirty-three thousand feet above everything else near and dear to me, I had been capturing moments of this spectacle with my smart phone, hoping to be able to relive it all again but knowing that this was an event only the naked eye and an open heart could truly retain.

Certainly my green-eyed flight attendant must have been keeping her attentive watch on all of us in that plane....after all, that was her job!  If so, I never thought much about it and subconsciously relied upon her diligence and work ethics the whole flight.  Looking for her later as we debarked from the plane, she was nowhere to be found.  Curious...

An Ethereal Quality

Isn't that what Love is all about?  It's not that we take it for granted or fail to work hard in order to achieve it but, when we finally feel comfortable with it, green eyes watching closely or a blanket of blue studded with sparkling stars and a crescent moon above....we allow the Love to wash over us with little to no resistance.

My friend in 14E had closed his eyes early on and slept as his loving companion continued to shelter him with the touch of her hand on his.  Was this the Love we all hope for and seek out within our lifetime?  Someone to be there and appreciate us no matter what travails we both face along the way?

Beauty Framed By The Plane's Window

My two hour 'bus ride' could not have been more interesting or enlightening.  There was so much to think about, ponder and question as our plane began its decent towards the miniature, man-made, twinkling lights and our final destination.  I had been surrounded by so much Love displayed in so many ways all day long beginning with my grandchildren's hugs and kisses, to the dedicated flight attendant, God's spectacular light show, and the loving couple in Row 14.  I enjoyed the solace in knowing that soon I would be welcomed, after a seven day separation, back into my husband's loving arms!

Mr. 14E had finally awoken from his temporary 'escape' into the world of dreams.  Slowly turning towards his companion, he gently placed his large hand upon hers for a change and, with a calm smile on his face, he asked, "Are we home now?"

 

 

Courage and Best of Luck to Everyone in November!!!

Copyright © 2014 by Jacqueline E. Hughes
All rights reserved