TWO SCORE AND SEVEN YEARS AGO: LOVE CONQUERS ALL

A series of essays....

SEPTEMBER 15, 1973

....as seen through my eyes!

By: Jacqueline E Hughes

I fell asleep quite late the night before with high expectations and a song from ‘My Fair Lady’ resounding in my head. Like the judge’s gavel smacking-down in the courtroom, the reverberations from wood-on-wood rang out to the tune of, ‘I’m getting married in the morning! Ding dong, the bells are gonna chime.’ This was the one and only shot I was giving myself at truly making these lyrics work; I believed in love, one partner for life, and the effort it would take to make a marriage as successful as possible.

Judging by my parent’s union, the physical and mental effort directed toward the production or accomplishment of a marriage was extensive. Like many of the ideas I claimed while growing-up, if I just leaned in the opposite direction a bit from them, I would be okay...better off. 

I loved them both for all of the right reasons, but could not understand, for the life of me, why living together could be so difficult at times. Theirs was a different generation steeped in ideas from another time, another place; unfortunately, a place where I did not want to be. 

ELAINE, MYSELF, ROBYN, JANIS AND SANDY
JUST BEFORE OUR WALK DOWN THE AISLE.

DAN WITH HIS FATHER, LEO HUGHES.

FAMILY AND FRIENDS TAKING
PART IN OUR SPECIAL DAY.

So, with church bells ringing inside my acute imagination, I drifted off, eventually, with love and hope swirling within the deep recesses of my heart. Never would I emulate the particular path my parents had taken, but knowing that their story helped to make them who they were, right or wrong, will always be an interesting read about the two people who loved, laughed, cried, and gave me life and the ability to make my own choices in this world.

With the anticipation of our honeymoon in Aruba one week after the ceremony (the timing being delayed by our work schedules), we spent our first night of married life at a Holiday Inn in Kalamazoo before heading to a romantic evening at a beautiful Bed & Breakfast in Saugatuck. 

Discovering that he had left his wallet at his parent’s house where he’d changed into his tuxedo, we spent our first night ripping open wedding envelopes in the hopes that we’d have enough cash to pay for the room in the morning. Chalk it up to releasing pent-up emotions after one of the busiest, most exciting days of our lives or to the deep exhaustion we were feeling at the moment, but we began laughing so hard that our silly little selves nearly cried us to sleep! Sitting side-by-side on one of the two queen-sized beds and watching the traffic on I-94 outside the window, I can recall that small room being strewn with opened envelopes and fives and tens recently released from glittery wedding cards that wished us the ‘very best’ in our life together as husband and wife.

BLUE DELFT TILES WE PURCHASED IN ARUBA

Walking around Saugatuck is always an interesting experience. By this time, Dan had driven back to his parent’s house to retrieve his wallet. On this second evening of married life, we tucked ourselves away into the bar at Coral Gables for a drink to continue our celebration. I had worked at the Gables in East Lansing while a student at Michigan State University and thought it appropriate to incorporate its vibe into our mini-honeymoon.

In mid-September the tables were mostly empty of social imbibers with the exception of several lingering vacationers a few tables over who talked about packing-up soon and heading home...wherever. The older gentleman was seated alone one table away. We were deep in our conversation about the wedding, in our own small universe, when he began speaking to us. “Did you two just get married? Wow, that’s real special. Good to see youth making a commitment these days.”

Thanking him generously for acknowledging us after our big day, the three of us chatted for a while longer. As he got up to leave, he mentioned something to the waiter after paying his tab and then walked over to us for one, final word. “Stay happy. Keep love alive. And, always remind yourselves of how you feel right at this very moment. I think you’ll do just fine!”

Sipping our drinks judiciously, Dan asked for our tab and was told that the older gentleman gifted us our drinks for the evening. “By the way, the gentleman said you are newlyweds. May I offer my congratulations?” 

WELCOME TO ARUBA!

A few short working days later, we were soaking-up the sun on the island of Aruba. Today, it is an autonomous country in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. To us, Aruba will alway be a Dutch island alive with the flair of Blue Delft ceramics, Divi Divi trees spreading out like broken umbrellas along the beach, and wild donkeys sashaying down the narrow streets and trails of this stunning but quaint Caribbean island that’s located several miles off the coast of Argentina. 

We drank Bon Bini cocktails while lounging around the hotel pool and rode horses along the white, sandy beaches. We ate Lobster Thermidor for the first time and when given milk at breakfast, were told they only served fresh goat’s milk at room temperature. I can remember every nuance of this fabulous week in paradise, together!

We fell in love all over again in Aruba, as if that were even possible. And now, forty-seven years later, love lives on and the memories are meant to be shared, forever, with family and friends alike. 

Happy Anniversary, Dan! Who knew what life had in store for us forty-seven years ago! I’d like to say that I wouldn’t change a thing, but there might be a few really rough patches we’d both like to tweak, if only for sanity’s sake. I couldn’t have asked for a better co-conspirator. I’m so grateful for finding my best friend along this journey through life!


Everyone...please stay healthy through these uncertain times. Wear a mask.

Copyright © 2020 by Jacqueline E Hughes

All rights reserved

LITTLE THINGS TO BE GRATEFUL FOR: “ALL BUT THE COFFEE!”

A series of essays....

A WALK THROUGH NATURE IS
A GREAT STRESS RELIEVER

....as seen through my eyes!

By: Jacqueline E Hughes

The abuse of and abysmal charade that the presidency of this once honorable nation has become has left many of her people stressed out and forthrightly yearning for peace, understanding, and blissful calm. Many of us have turned towards the basic idea of being joyfully grateful for the little things that make-up our days and nights in order to obtain that bit of solace we so desperately require.

Staying in my room and reading a book often brought me peace and quiet from three brothers I shared my life with while growing up. Being the only girl of four children taught me many survival tactics that I would never have required if I’d been blessed with a sister to share my feelings with. At least, this is what my adult self believes. Books became my good friends and took me away to distant places far beyond the male dominated world I lived in.

By the time I hit my early teen years, their world became a part of mine and I learned to throw a perfect spiral, hit a ball out of the back yard, and employ a graceful swan shot that often sank ‘rimless’ into the net. I was always angry that I could never handle a slam dunk, even at an early height of 5 feet 7 inches! 

While scrolling social media a few days ago, I came across a meme that was so simplistic in nature it resembled an adult’s doodle; a child’s rendering of objects experienced in life and expressed in simple drawings in order to be shared with others. Even the wording employed a combination of upper and lower case letters, sometimes within the same word, suggesting a youthful approach to its wording and artwork.

“ALL BUT THE COFFEE.”

The meme itself brought a soothing calmness to my soul. Reading the many comments of others who appreciated the gentle nudge of its message brought a certain zen-like mellowness to my day and encouraged the feeling of hope all of us so desperately need right now.

I am a firm believer in reading the comments offered by others on social media. We are able to understand so much more about a particular article, picture, blog post, or meme by the reaction of those who have actually taken the time to read them, share their feelings, or offer their ideas (good, bad, or indifferent) about them.

Here are a sampling of reactions to this meme: “Feeling of cat fur and hearing the purring....” “Smell of fresh cut grass.” “Love and so thankful for the little things!” “Looking into my dogs eyes and seeing love.” “Rainbows and tea brewing.” “Being able to walk with no pain!” “Being blessed and grateful for the people in my life.” “So Grateful for all these LITTLE THINGS. 💕” “Not just the sound of rain, some actual rain would be good.” “Sleeping in and great coffee.” “All but the coffee!” “The sound of laughter.. Its very rare lately....”

Many people were grateful for everything on the list while others added to the original photo list with specific personal wishes, and others negated an item or two. This is why people fascinate me so much and keep the world spinning along on its axis. But, it was the final example and quote that I shared from the comment list that offered a sharp reality check more than anything else.

I began remembering all of the good hearted belly laughs shared throughout the years with family and good friends and how that wonderful tinkling sound of pure joy in compliance with unadulterated mirth would bring on self-induced hiccups, guffawing, and, in my case, uncontrollable snorting. (I truly apologize for this particular image, my friends.)

Laughter comes in many forms and instigated by a multitude of reasons. Whether it is expressed by chuckling, tittering, or giggling...it is the greatest and least expensive form of merriment we have as human beings while being able to openly express our happy, glorious selves! It was sad to know that people believe that hearing laughter ringing out is becoming a rare occurrence today. But then, even our smiles have become hidden behind triple filtered masks. 

Our eyes are becoming more interesting and expressive these days. With our smiles tucked away in public, for now, the ‘windows to our souls’ are working overtime! The eyes become wide with happiness, crinkled with laughter, and brighter with the anticipation of greater things to come. We must fight hard and hope that others do, as well, but in a little over 60 days from now I am predicting more smiles, laughter, pure happiness, and even uncontrollable snorting are in store for those of us who have sat back and watched a joyful world begin to implode in on itself.

For now, we’ll take our list of ‘Little Things To Be Grateful For’ and add our own personal touches to it. We’ll be content and happy for all of these small wonders that evoke fond memories, peace and calm, spirituality, gratification, pleasure, and love within us. And, we’ll work hard to regain the sense of pride in our lives that stemmed from being grateful for a deep conversation with friends and a cleansing walk in the forest after a summer’s rain. It’s the little things that help make us who we are. It will always be the little things that see us into a brighter future!

Register to vote. Wear a mask in public. Be kind. Vote.

Copyright © 2020 by Jacqueline E Hughes

All rights reserved

LEARNING HOW TO ACCEPT THE INEVITABLE

A series of essays....

STUNNING LESSONS FROM A MORNING FROST

Courtesy of Cookie’s Crumbles

....as seen through my eyes!

By: Jacqueline E Hughes

The stark reality is that when we wake-up one morning, in the not too distant future, there will be all sorts of familiar surfaces glistening with a generous coating of frost. The chill in the air will assault the nostrils; its rawness biting at and stinging the flesh as it attacks our fortitude to the very core of our being and we are sent running to the front closet for layers of warmth in various forms of protectiveness before crunching our way to our immediate destination.

Returning to Michigan after all of this time, I am recalling the patterns of life here that were once second nature to me having spent most of my formative years growing-up in a small town not far away. Even a grand length of time spent in a warm climate cannot erase the habitual inner awareness of the ‘seasonal change’ clock that has guided my life for years.

Even though the temps continue to sizzle outside with today’s high around ninety degrees, the mind is secretly preparing for what is to come just around the corner. Am I ready for it? Do I have a choice in the matter...? Not really!

Being pragmatic, we concentrate on what we believe can be reasonably controlled in our lives. But, we’re learning the hard way that even these things are being curtailed as time goes by. Trust me, the weather is not one of them. It will come roaring in one way or another bringing with it a frosty coat of early winter chill, hot seasonal temps that challenge each breath we take, and a Gulf of Mexico hurricane named Laura that threatens the lives of millions of people who are already dealing with a global pandemic.

So, sitting here on our deck that overlooks the backyard with its stone-outlined flowerbeds, otherwise known as ‘salad bars’ for the deer, and mature trees, a crumpled green leaf, browning at the edges, falls onto my lap. If it’s ‘two-point’ projection was zeroing in on my oversized mug of jasmine tea, it only missed its mark by several inches. The seasons are doing their familiar dance even as the tea cools in my hands.

As the daylight grows shorter and the bursts of brilliant pinks, orange, and muted purples set lower in the evening sky, we become acutely aware of our surroundings, consciously observing and listening to all of the subtle activity happening around us. They appear as plump, feasting squirrels who drop clusters of leaves and nuts from high up in the mature trees in preparation of their winter nests. We duck like frightened children as the abundant green acorns become natural projectiles when they fall from the mighty oaks and loudly ‘thunk’ upon metal sheds, garage roofs, and wooden decks. And, the late blooming plants are decked out in their finest floral coats of soft colors and intricate textures while continuing to draw their buzzing friends close around them.

CRYSTALLINE COVERS ON SOFT COLORS

Dan and I love the warm days and cool evenings that  September brings and have done most of our major traveling during this charming month. This year will mark our 47th year of saying “I do” as we celebrate our anniversary during the middle of September and are joyfully reminded of having been encircled by loving family and friends within a great limestone church located in that same little town not far away from us. 

Is it true that we tend to migrate back to the places where we experienced so many ‘firsts?’: first bonafide, one on one, date; first genuine kiss; first airplane trip; first solo drive in your very own banger (that was, actually, in pretty good condition); first time you thought you might be in love; first downhill skiing run; the second time you experienced the needless death of friends (first time happened when a classmate in elementary school succumbed after her hard fought battle with leukemia), and the first time you knew that there was a huge, wonderful, exciting world out there that you had to experience and enjoy...sooner rather than later.

Even as we wait for the coronavirus to subside (or, maybe because we have to), we have become more aware of the world around us, concentrated as we are in select places. At least, that’s as it should be. My jasmine laced breaks in the afternoon remind me of how delightful life can be. If I must go out into the Covid infused world, my first instinct is to secure my face mask from the knob it dangles from near the front door; always at the ready and convenient for whatever happens that pulls me outside.

Our lives are different these days. We have many new things to think about and absorb as we head back into the crisp days of fall with our children going back to school, virtually or in person, and Zoom sessions becoming the norm for many of us who must stay connected with the outside world. So, by the time the day comes when my toes are reluctantly imprisoned in socks and closed shoes and I await the comfort of my Floridian flip flops (affectionately known as ‘slippers’) while walking around indoors, I hope we’re all prepared for the changes the weather, life, and 2020 will continue to bring into our lives.

While stashing the gardening tools away for another season, let’s do each other the kind favor of watching out for one another’s best interests by wearing our masks in public, being polite and kind at all times, and respecting the well-being and productivity of each and every one of us including all that we bring to this magnificent table called life.

Enjoy the rest of your summer with family and friends and make room in your heart for the frosty realities brought to us by fall and winter. I’m not quite there yet....but, I’m faithfully working on it!

Copyright © 2020 by Jacqueline E Hughes

All rights reserved

ENLIGHTENMENT

A series of essays....

THE NEW AND MUCH REQUIRED SPIRIT OF
THE AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT

....as seen through my eyes!

By: Jacqueline E Hughes

ENLIGHTENMENT, or The New Age of Enlightenment, is upon us. If we are here to make a difference and disrupt the current narcissistic propensities displayed by many holding political power and extreme wealth in today’s society, we the people must become enlightened...once again. If we wish to reclaim the spirit and philosophies that this nation was initially based upon and fought so hard for, than the significance of another philosophical movement stressing the importance of reason and the critical reappraisal of existing ideas and social institutions...is upon us. If we oppose the current political leanings towards rule by hierarchy and inequality, we are setting ourselves up for one of the most aggressive fights of our lives. If we lose, it will be time to open up our hearts and minds to the ramifications due to this failure as we face the end of democracy as we know it and end up with a singular conservative system that will systematically shred  the meaning of ‘Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness,’ forever. We should be seriously concerned by this political outcome and diligently fight for the rights originally intended within our own Constitution. Doing whatever it takes, we must become enlightened...again!

“The Enlightenment was a movement in Europe from around the year 1650 until 1800 that advocated the use of reason and individualism instead of tradition and established doctrine and brought about many humanitarian reforms.” ...Wikipedia. It was also known as The Age of Reason and encompassed a large range of ideas: science; mathematics; reason (application of logic and making sense of things); cultural movement (in decorative and visual arts, literature, theatre, music, and architecture); liberty; progress; tolerance (permissive attitude towards those whose opinions and beliefs differ from your own); a constitutional government, and separation of church and state. We must ask ourselves if we can afford to lose or, at least, be forcefully instructed as to how much or how little (if any at all), of the above we are allowed to pursue in the future. If we are able to apply logic in answering this question, it would have to be a firm, negative response. To impede the forward momentum of social and humanitarian reforms would set society back centuries and life as we know it into a tailspin, notably impossible to recover from.

Enlightenment is the knowledge and feeling of teaching and comprehension, wisdom and insight, open-mindedness and awareness, cultivation and grace within the pursuit of a diverse and civilized lifestyle. Enlightenment is the pure definition of immigration itself with a variety of backgrounds, religions, and cultures lighting our path of discovery and knowledge beyond all prior comprehension; attainable through our inclusiveness and desire to change from being backwards in our way of thinking to being open-minded and progressive.The progression of life often includes changes and not all of them will be pleasurable. Yet, all have their purpose, for better or worse, and we cannot afford to miss the lesson each change has in store for us. Will we become enlightened by each lesson or will we become stodgy, stagnant, and cruel by the omission of forward thinking? Others have attained the latter in various degrees of their ignorance, selfishness, and extreme hatred of people who are different from themselves; those born within a class level that they feel is far beneath them. To be born into privilege or become so narrow minded about the world that exists around you eliminates the hope of enlightenment unless you are willing to arrive at a fresh stage in your life and be open to positive, productive thinking.

The soul of America is in an arena of contention, caught between hatred and the good angels attempting to save It.  The New Age of Enlightenment is here! Be a part of it and vote in November because...our lives and democracy itself depend on it! This is not a reality television show. This is real life and time is running out.

Stay safe. Stay healthy. Wear your mask.

Copyright © 2020 by Jacqueline E Hughes

All rights reserved

A PATCHWORK QUILT: LIFE IN 2020

A series of essays....

TODAY OUR LIVES RESEMBLE A PATCHWORK QUILT;
MAKESHIFT, OFTEN IMPROVISED, AND FILLED 
WITH MANY DIFFERENT SHAPES, SIZES, COLORS, AND MEMORIES.

Courtesy of 123RF.com

....as seen through my eyes!

By: Jacqueline E Hughes

Experiencing self-doubt and mental anguish, she sits in her comfort zone, closes her eyes, and drifts off into places and times that help to soothe her world, make her feel whole...if only for a moment. For now, that will have to be enough. Touching her grandchildren with long hugs and joyful kisses will have to wait; for more reasons than anyone may ever know, including herself.

The pandemic of 2020 has lasted far longer than anyone expected. With so many lives foolishly lost, too many of us couldn’t rally back like others may have. But, even so, years later, we will be expected to pick-up the pieces and carry on; almost as if nothing had really happened. 

The sunlight is beginning to spread like butter along the wooden fence in the backyard creating dark landscapes painted along its rough surface by the tree’s shadows. I advert my eyes for mere seconds at a time only to look back and find a completely new landscape as the sun slowly rises in the morning sky. 

When schools closed, the world changed.

The complexities surrounding the word normal are far too great to comprehend. That which is usual, typical, or ordinary, at least as we knew it to be, has been melded into something different every day. We are now living lives void of the ordinary with normalcy becoming the shifting desert sands in a windstorm.

Collaboration is cooperating with others and the action of working together to produce something of importance. Scientists are collaborating in order to discover and produce a viable and safe coronavirus vaccine to be administered as soon as all necessary testing is completed and enough is produced for the masses. This news is worth keeping my mask on in public and observing social distancing for as long as it takes this valiant effort to succeed! Science is how we’ll get back to normal.

Many people will be able to get through this fall season without college football. But, will the colleges themselves believe that they can based on lack of student athletic participation and minus the revenue generated by a prominent college football program? Perhaps an effort to prioritize something more than sports is in order.

Protective face masks come in a variety of solid colors and amazingly colorful prints. Never in a million years did we think we would be accessorizing these lifesaving facial additions with our daily ensembles right alongside Nancy Pelosi and the Queen of England! We must all do our part for the safety of ourselves and others and, as an added bonus, look good while doing it!!!

Never thought the right of being able to feel the warmth of a handshake, the softness of a kiss on each cheek, an embrace with someone you gave life to...would or could be as elusive as a distant thought or memory. That even believing we may have made contact with a COVID-19 positive person would keep us secluded from others for up to fourteen days. This, sadly, has become the new ‘normal.’

We have loftily taken so many good things in our lives for granted.

Three deer, the color of rich caramel, just walked below the deck and sauntered out onto the golf course. The leader waits on the 8th fairway for her companions to catch-up with her. When they do, the three Muske(d)eers playfully walk across the 7th, 6th to the 5th fairway leaving amazed golfers, sitting in immobile golf carts, in their wake. 

In an attempt to come up with creative ways to keep life interesting during these unusual times, we have decided to purchase take-out meals from local establishments and create a small feast at the picnic table on our back deck. Supporting your favorites restaurants, with little to no risk to yourself, will help insure their existence well into the future.

Local travel may delight us with its miles of sandy, Lake Michigan beaches, acres of lush parks, crystal blue inland lakes, and rich, green forests crisscrossed by walking trails certain to keep us busy for days and days...

I miss the pull of waking up early, bags packed, ticket on my smartphone’s airline app, the anticipation of walking the long gateways of the airport terminal with the smell of freshly brewed coffee and cinnamon rolls wafting around me, and people concentrated there from all over the world doing the exact same thing in real time! There has always been something uniquely special for me regarding international travel and there always will be. The thought of knowing that new worlds, people, customs, flavors, and colors await me on the other side of my plane trip is worth every line, safety rule, and minor inconvenience it takes to get me to my destination. I can hardly wait to resume this journey!

This election (2020) has to be about winning and not skin color, gender, or background.

By now it should be common knowledge that Vice President Joe Biden’s pick for his running mate is Senator Kamala Harris from California. I couldn’t be happier, even though my heart was set on ushering in Susan Rice. I have always loved Kamala and find her the common sense choice filled with energy, experience, and promise. Understanding that Michigan is a critical state for the campaign of 2020, the ticket of Biden and Harris promises to further the reveal of their passionate, people loving personalities and showcase how this pair will be able to bring this country back together. Joe and Kamala will heal the heart and soul of America which is what this country desperately needs right now.

Not only will ALL women succeed even further by Joe’s selection of Kamala Harris, but the past days of pain, death, and sadness have been rejuvenated by this positive jolt of energy injected into this campaign by these two hardworking and compassionate individuals. Today we are just 82 days out from the election of a lifetime. Make your voices heard and Vote in 2020!!!

Stay healthy and keep those around you safe and healthy, as well!

Copyright © 2020 by Jacqueline E Hughes

All rights reserved

MULTIPLE PERILS: COVID-19 AND INEVITABLE/HARMFUL EVICTIONS

A series of essays....

BEING EVICTED FROM YOUR HOME WILL
LEAVE LIFELONG SCARS ON YOUR MIND, HEART & SOUL!

Courtesy John Moore/Getty Images

....as seen through my eyes!

By: Jacqueline E Hughes

During a conversation with one of Kalamazoo’s City Commissioners last Thursday, while discussing a grave problem that has plagued our vital, little neighborhood for months now and isn’t going away, soon...I was taken aback by a simple statement he made: “Our offices are going to become quite busy in the coming months as we address the real concerns of those who might (will) be evicted from their homes.”

Instantly, my breath was stifled under my black, triple-filtered mask...more so than usual. I realized that in my attempt to help correct one problem, I’d completely ignored another; a calamity brought about by the inevitable onslaught of a seemingly uncontrollable virus that has given birth to a domino effect that haunts each of us, one way or another.

This ‘Trump Show’ began in earnest back on January 20, 2017, when good men such as Congressman John Lewis understood and refused to personally advance it by calling Trump an “illegitimate president” and declined to attend his inauguration and, subsequently, his State of the Union Address.

PORTRAIT OF JOHN LEWIS AND BARACK OBAMA BY DAN LACEY

Trump, a vindictive and illiterate man, has lied his way into our lives. Unexpectedly finding himself in the White House, his priorities soon became clear: benefit himself financially by any means possible; lie, cheat, and cahoot with anyone, including foreign dictators, in order to serve his own cause; turn against and demean anybody who fails to agree with or challenges him privately or publicly; use his status to breakdown a democratic system that past presidents have rightfully preserved as the backbone of this great nation, and, finally, to quench his desire to totally discredit and wipe-out any good deed, law, or benefit to the people that was initiated or brought to fruition by our previous president, Barack Obama. 

Completely oblivious to any form of code of conduct and lacking a moral compass, this man blighted us with, not only, an apparent lack of education when it comes to basic, high school level, U.S. Government knowledge, but subsequently displayed his unwillingness to learn it as a sitting president. 

Due to this cavalier attitude, we the people have suffered enormous wrongs, which include: minimizing clean air and water quality; drilling for oil and gold and hunting wildlife within our National Parks; the discovery that Putin had placed bounties on the heads of American troops; the incarceration of children along our southern border; the denial of a worldwide deadly virus and failure to appropriately issue assistance via PPE, testing, and sound virus strategies as the virus spread from state to state, as well as the unconscionable price we have paid for his failures in the midst of this pandemic including the closure of small businesses, loss of jobs, the enabling of personal mental health instability, and the unnecessary loss of so many American lives.

And, this is strictly a ‘short list.’

Congress approved a bill to provide $600-per-week towards unemployment insurance for those losing their jobs due to the pandemic which has, ultimately, kept the economy stronger than anyone had the right to hope for. The unemployed have been able to pay their rent and/or house payment, purchase food for their family, and pay their bills.

And now, as this important ‘virus relief’ has officially expired and has not been renewed, the talks slog on with millions of people still out of work. Employment, especially minimum wage jobs, are unavailable due to the consequences of the pandemic and financial futures remain unprotected and frightening. 

HOW DO YOU MANAGE YOUR MENTAL HEALTH DURING A PANDEMIC?

Courtesy of FIT

Progress is slow as the urgency grows on virus relief talks. If the weak Republican proposal is signed and benefits are downgraded to $200-per-week, the compensation will not be enough to keep these families in good stead towards running even a minimal life style or provide protection from banks and landlords who hold jurisdiction over retaining a roof over their heads. 

We’ve been here before and not so very long ago. The extreme struggles many of us were made to endure in 2008 are now lurking around the corner, again. The psychological ramifications from having no control over your life is tantamount to having a battering ram threaten to smash in your skull every minute of the day. You can never stop thinking about it and it is certain to take its physical toll on you in due time.

So, when our friend from the City of Kalamazoo reminded us of the inevitable outcome initiated by the government dragging its feet and allowing for hardworking people to lose their homes, my heart skipped a beat. He explained how he, as a City Commissioner, will be one member of our local government who must appropriately handle the calls and text messages filled with emotional complaints and desperate pleas made by desperate citizens living in our area of the State of Michigan in the next few months. Tears fill my eyes as I can already hear these frantic voices cry out and employ any means possible in order to cling to their dreams; cling to the American Dream they have strived for, secured (for the most part) and now stand to lose.

I have labeled one consequence of this sad, repetitive situation as ‘inevitable evictions’ for a reason. The current administration has been notorious for breaking down the little guy, the middle class, the working poor, for nearly four years by way of taking away any means possible towards making life more viable, healthy, and profitable for them. For now, the pandemic has afforded this administration the means to justify their actions. 

The protection of fundamental human rights should be the primary objective for supporting democracy and its principles. As our government and all of its elected participants continue talks on virus relief this week, we can only hope that a timely and suitable outcome is achieved before people find themselves living out of their automobiles or stretching the fabric of health and wellbeing by having to move into a relative’s home. I do not see evictions as a feasible, emergency plan for riding out this financial storm during a deadly pandemic.

EVICTING FAMILIES FROM THEIR HOMES IN THE MIDDLE OF A
PANDEMIC IS CRUEL AND DANGEROUS.

Courtesy Getty Images

How does one conform to the plausible advice of our public health officials and governors who call for ‘staying home practices’ during this health crisis if people have no place to call home anymore?

We the people need to get a grip on how much we have lost and how much more we stand to lose. In a time when coronavirus heroes, nurses and all healthcare workers, are getting tossed from their homes by landlords who fear they may bring the coronavirus home with them, there is much to fear on both sides of our current situation. I pray we find some common ground when handling our lives and dealing with others from here on out by means of common sense and intelligence thinking, if nothing else.

Reality is that ‘The Heroes Act,’ proposed almost three months ago and immediately passed by the Congress, has waited all this time to gain a reaction from the Upper Chamber led by Mitch McConnell who continues to drag his feet and delay forward momentum. If this non-action continues, it will surely be considered a formula for further disaster.

IF YOU CAN’T PAY YOUR HOUSE PAYMENT OR RENT DURING THE
CORONAVIRUS CATASTROPHE, LET’S HOPE THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
WILL HAVE YOUR BACK...

Courtesy Flickr

Stay safe. Stay healthy. If you are not already, please register to vote. VOTE IN NOVEMBER! OUR LIVES DEPEND ON IT!

Copyright © 2020 by Jacqueline E Hughes

All rights reserved

          

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE — FREEDOM’S MANUAL AND THE FOUNDING DOCUMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A series of essays....

THE PAINTING “DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE” BY JOHN TRUMBULL.
THE ORIGINAL PAINTING HANGS IN THE U.S. CAPITOL ROTUNDA.

....as seen through my eyes!

By: Jacqueline E Hughes

How many times have you purchased an electronic item with all of its buttons and knobs, not knowing what each button or knob stands for or what duty it performs, and then place the instruction manuel aside for perusal another day?

History holds us accountable for our actions, or lack thereof, by leaving us with extra nuts and bolts after putting together the Christmas bicycle, or wondering why the garage shelving isn’t sturdy and discovering the side braces have been installed upside down. How often have you said to yourself  and others, “I know this (insert name of item here) is equipped to do so much more! If I only knew what all of these buttons are for...” 

Have you had the good fortune of sitting behind the wheel of your brand new vehicle, ‘new car’ smell intoxicating you with its sensual, short lived odeur de la belle vie, bedazzled by an instrument panel that you are certain rivals that of any Indy car, and look at the rather thick User’s Manual only when you deem it necessary to do so? How much air do the tires require? How large (or small) is the gas tank? What exactly does it mean when that little light on the dash comes on? That’s where we draw the line between really knowing about this amazing piece of machinery and just what we need to know to get us by while driving it.

SOMETHING SO SIMPLE LOOKING AND USED EVERYDAY CAN
HIDE LAYER UPON LAYER OF ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONS.

Looking down at my new auxiliary keyboard this morning convinced me of my own lack of inquisitiveness while several options connected to ‘ctrl’ - ‘alt’ - ‘fn’ and a little butterfly-like symbol attached to a key with a tiny lit lightbulb glowing below it stared me in the face and made me curious about what this keyboard could do. I never made time to learn about all of the ‘extras’ this seemingly simple apparatus has to offer before I began typing messages, notes, and blog material; ignorantly continuing life within my usual and comfortable set of patterns.

As in our everyday life, we humans navigate within set guidelines, hesitating to venture out and experience all of the possibilities that are presented to us and, are often, right before our eyes. The coronavirus is changing this basic attitude for many of us...to a certain degree; showing us how having more time on our hands can be a wonderful and very precious commodity while affording us the means to venture out, break new ground, and slip away from previously set patterns.

Like a domesticated cat, a crouching tiger navigating along the hardwood floor, curiosity places her in a position to pounce, if need be. With having more time as our incentive, we can embrace our own curiosity, personal passions and skills, with renewed inspiration, grace and vigor. 

Even if we simply embrace a calmer, more mundane and less stressful lifestyle these days, that’s an accomplishment in itself. Like the brand new vehicle mentioned before, we are all amazing machines and capable of so much if our engines are running smoothly. Let’s suppose this unplanned (highly lethal) coronavirus pit stop is telling us to get serviced, refueled, and refreshed because the next leg of this crazy journey of life requires us to be fine-tuned and running at full capacity! Whether it be finding a vaccine for COVID-19, swiping our nation’s politics out of the hands of foreign influences, or marching and protesting for Black Lives Matter and all of the myriad of wrongs that need to be righted in our lifetime, we must be prepared!

NOT THE BIKE YOUR DADDY PUT TOGETHER ON CHRISTMAS MORNING...

As many of us have briefly stopped for rest before continuing on with the road trip ahead of us, others have already read the thick manuals accompanying the seriously complicated looking piece of electronic equipment, the fancy, multi-layered keyboard, and the 27-gear dirt bike you know your daddy did not put together for you on Christmas morning! Times are, indeed, changing.

It’s election year and the possibility of changing our lives for the better rests on all of our shoulders. We cannot be afraid. Fear is what got us into this mess in the first place. Allow common sense to guide us in the right direction. If wearing a mask in public will help save our life and that of those around us and we are not led via good example...then it is our right and duty to change that example. If any of our elected officials abuse their privilege and power for personal gain and corruption, it is necessary to point it out and make change by voting them out. 

We have become soldiers in this fight for our lives; learning to educate ourselves (again, reading those manuals), marching in the streets for the absolute rights of all people, even staying in place in our own homes in order to curb the spread of an horrific virus. We make the time to speak-out against what is wrong and try to correct it before it is too late to make a difference. Some of us are understanding the true meaning behind ‘white privilege’ and how owning it can open-up our eyes to how others have been abused by it. 

We are becoming more aware of the term ‘implicit bias’ which describes when we have attitudes towards people or associate stereotypes with them without our conscious knowledge. According to Perception Institute, a clear example of this is seen in studies showing that white people will often associate criminality with black people without even realizing they are doing it.

Our cities are shrinking as more and more small businesses are being dissolved due to the lethal separation of politics and science. People who have worked long and hard to secure a slice of the American Dream are watching that dream become smaller and smaller until, eventually, it disappears. 

FAMILIAR SHAPES THESE DAYS CUT FROM BRIGHTLY
PATTERNED CLOTH AND COLORS

It’s difficult to understand at times, but staring at my keyboard this morning precipitated this rather long trail of thoughts that had to be written down and digested at face value. There is so much information out there that’s adhering to us as soundly as iron-based metal shavings to a magnet. After a particularly long day, we can feel as though we have doubled in weight. This difficult burden is slowly being absorbed into our system, begging to be purified and refined before the morning light begins to appear and the process repeats itself.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men (people) are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” ——Portion of the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence. 

My hope is that we all study our manuals on life before shoving them into dark, unlabeled cubicles, drawers, and glove boxes. Understanding what makes this world tick, which button to push and why, knowing what it will take to make that little dash light turn off, will help bring us together as one, collaborating unit and informed source of love and appreciation of one another. We can be unbiased, fine-tuned machines that strive as individuals and work well in groups for the betterment of our broken nation, a nation in dire need of a fix after four years of unbridled pain.

Stay healthy and contribute to the health of others by wearing a mask.

Copyright © 2020 by Jacqueline E Hughes

All rights reserved