"I WANT TO LIVE LIKE MUSIC SOUNDS."

A series of essays.....

Author, Eva Ibbotson

.....as seen through my eyes!



By: Jacqueline E. Hughes

First of all, I would just like to say how much I love what I do! 

The Austrian born author, Eva Ibbotson, is the perfect example as to why so many of us rise early in the morning, words swirling around in our heads like iridescent butterflies, with so many ideas begging to be captured on the tiny little screen of an iPad!  Well, in my case an iPad, anyway.

Having two young, seven-year-old granddaughters who are voracious readers, it is interesting that their age group has fallen into what I refer to as the 'crack of oblivion' when it comes to the major and lucrative promotion of the Harry Potter books written by J.K. Rowling.  That's not to say that they won't be influenced by them in the near future considering the Harry Potter series targets the YA, or young adult, niche.  I think they just got lost in the shuffle, for now.

I do recall the observation of literary critics who had found similarities between Ibbotson's "Platform 13" in her book entitled The Secret Platform 13 published in 1994 and J.K. Rowling's "Platform 9 3/4" in her Harry Potter book series from 1997, both located at King's Cross Station in London.  According to Wikipedia, the journalist, Amanda Craig, has written about these similarities.  "Ibbotson would seem to have a good case for claiming plagiarism......, but unlike the American author, Nancy Stouffer, currently suing Ms. Rowling, Ibbotson says she would, 'Like to shake (Rowling) by the hand.  I think we all borrow from each other as writers.' "

My point here is to recognize the heartwarming character of this interesting individual and author, as she publicly comes to terms with life, career and human nature.  She not only recognizes the propensity of writers to 'borrow' from one another (chalking it up as a supreme compliment, perhaps), but offers her congratulations to Rowling for a job well done!


Eva Ibbotson, born Eva Marie Charlotte Michelle Wiesner, in Vienna, Austria in 1925, was the daughter of non-practicing Jewish parents.  Her father, a physician who pioneered human infertility treatment and her mother, a novelist and playwright, were divorced when Eva was only three.  Her mother went to Paris in 1933 and left when Hitler banned her work.  Eventually settling in North London, she sent for her daughter along with other family members who ultimately avoided the worst of the Nazi regime.  The experience of fleeing Vienna was a strong thread throughout Eva's life and work, according to Wikipedia.  Eva passed away on October 20, 2010 at the age of eighty-five after editing the proofs of her new children's book, One Dog And His Boy, and beginning another ghost story, The Abominables, published posthumously in 2012.

Known for her writing of children's fantasy novels and historical fiction, her career took off when she was nearly forty-five years old and spanned from 1965 through 2010. 

Logging-in more than a dozen books for children, they include Which Witch?, The Secret of Platform 13, Dial-A-Ghost and Journey to the River Sea.  The latter was written in memory of her late husband, Alan Ibbotson, a former naturalist and professor at Cambridge University.  You may recall that President Obama made a surprise visit to the independent bookstore, Prairie Lights Books in Iowa City back in 2010 where he picked up a copy of Journey to the River Sea for his daughters.

President Obama at Prairie Lights Books

As an author, grandmother and avid reader.....I know what is in store for me.  Once I begin reading the novels of Eva Ibbotson, I totally expect to love them completely and will want to read all of them!  Recently, a blogger reviewing Journey to the River Sea and discovering Ibbotson's books for the first time exclaimed, "I am considering tracking down a copy of every one of her books, building a fort, and hiding out there to read and read and read until I have devoured Eva Ibbotson's entire collection.  I want to hand out copies of Journey to the River Sea to every child I meet!  And probably a few adults, too! I loved it that much."  Oh boy!!  I am in for the long haul.....I can just feel it!

My journey into the life of this interesting female author began because of a quote I had seen online that struck me as one of the best 'writing prompts' I've seen in a long while.  Spoken by her character, Ruth, in the novel, The Morning Gift, Eva Ibbotson wrote, "I want to live like music sounds."  There's something quite magical in this statement.  How does this interesting quote affect you?  Are you conjuring up all sorts of pictures in your head right now like I am?  From the four most recognized notes (Big Bang Introduction) of Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 to the haunting dirge called A Prayer sung by Madeleine Peyroux from her album Dreamland.....and all of that 'life' filling in the huge area in between, our lives are surrounded by the sounds, noise and notes that swirl and collect around us every moment of our existence! 

Does our arm merely rise into the air as we wave hello to a friend or does it drift upwards to hang above us while a 'blues note' floats along an invisible breeze until we catch it in the smooth palm of our hand?  I hear lullabies playing in a baby's room and feel the reassurance of a calm, sleep filled night as 'gentleness' is carried along on puffs of air to be inhaled as innocent breaths, and eyes begin to softly close....close.  Drum solos executed by the likes of John Bonham, Neil Peart, Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich boom, bang and clatter until our hearts burst from the cadence and rhythms of anticipated fear, extreme adventure, lust for life....!!

Can you sit still as the music plays?  I cannot.  I will not!

For her entire life, Eva Ibbotson had said she disliked "....financial greed and lust for power" and often created antagonists in her books who have these characteristics.  Certainly this contributes to her reaction of the literary critics with regard to similarities found in the J.K. Rowling's books. 

Even though her more recent collections feature writing for children, Ibbotson was also noted for several works of fiction for adults.  Two of her acclaimed books are set in Europe at the time of World War II and reflect her experience of the time: The Morning Gift (1993) and A Song For Summer (1997).

While researching additional quotes attributed to the many characters  found in her numerous works of fiction, I discovered how they serve to delight the senses and entertain the mind, as well.  I want to share some of them with you and deservedly give credit to meetville.com for such pretty packaging, or not!?!


'A Countess Below Stairs'



'The Star of Kazan'

 

Preview Magazine interviewed Eva in the Fall of 2001 and the results of this interview reinforced everything I had been feeling about this amazing Lady!  Passionate, Modest, Sensitive, Talented and Caring.....Words that describe Eva Ibbotson completely.

What were you doing when you found out that your first book was going to be published? "Cooking supper for my husband and children. My agent phoned and I shouted and we all danced about, except my husband who saw to it that the sauce did not burn."
What did you treat yourself to afterwards?  "My first money as a writer came from a short story in a magazine.  It was a very small sum, and I bought Mars Bars for everybody in the family."

'The Dragonfly Pool'

'A Countess Below Stairs'

A wife, mother of four and award winning author, Eva Ibbotson's humble life was a lesson of Love for all of us.  Even though its roots were based in divorce, unhappiness and impending war in Europe or, because of ALL the above, the Guardian, publishing her story upon her passing in 2010, proclaimed her "A self-confessed 'happy endings freak.'  She expressed some bemusement at trends for darker children's fiction and her books always reassured young readers that good would be rewarded and that spoilt brats and greedy grown-ups would get their comeuppance."

Taking cues from her character, Ruth, in The Morning Gift, I truly believe that Eva Ibbotson lived her life like music sounds....

Copyright © 2015 By Jacqueline E. Hughes
All rights reserved

COMPLACENCY: The Eleventh Commandment?

A series of essays.....

 

 

 

MOVING ON.....2015: Pink to Aged Beige

.....as seen through my eyes!




By: Jacqueline E. Hughes

Elbow deep in Behr Ultra, (PPU7-9) Aged Beige, to be precise, one more pink-walled room is biting the dust......and, I couldn't be happier!!  Cookie-cutter homes are like that.  You're just so darn happy to be purchasing it that the initial choices made at the Design Studio, before the slab is even poured, can be daunting.  It's like decorating an entire house with choices pulled together within a span of an hour or so.  Like I said....daunting!

My goal has always been to eliminate the original 'pale mauve' walls that have dominated every vertical surface of our home since its birth in 1998.  Each time a new wall is released from its 'pink prison,' an angel gets its wings......or, something like that.  At any rate, following this painting extravaganza, which may or may not include the formal living area/library across the foyer, we should have only two 'wingless' angels left awaiting their flight instructions....

Ahh!  Another Angel Is Sighing

Complacency, as defined in the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition is a feeling of contentment or self-satisfaction, especially when coupled with an unawareness of danger, trouble or controversy.  To be complacent, a person (or group) has become satisfied with the current situation and unconcerned with changing it, often to the point of smugness.  No specific political references here she writes, with a shrug and a wink.

Standing in our dining room with 'Aged Beige' dripping down my arm like coffee flavored ice cream in a plain cone succumbing to the heat of a long summer's day, it's becoming clearer to me as to why I've suddenly thrust my whole being into this often tedious domestic project.  To be satisfied, content and unconcerned about everything that is happening around me is just not my style.  If there had been an Eleventh Commandment written down on tablets of stone by Moses who was inspired by God on Mount Sinai it would have to have read: "Thou shalt never, ever dwell in a world of complacency."  Or, something to that effect.

No matter how great our achievements are in this lifetime, there will always be room for bigger and better ideas that will thrust us far beyond our original hopes, dreams and initial accomplishments. 

Comfort breeds complacency!  Great things never came from comfort zones.  Thomas Edison once said, "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."  Seek brilliance and never be afraid of getting your hands a little dirty in the process...  Hard work strengthens character, develops the imagination and helps us rise above the ordinary. 

"Be the change you want to see in the World,"  This quote by Mahatma Gandhi resonates with so many of us and has always helped to ease the transition from personal silence to the power our change can make in this world if we choose to utilize it.  Begin a recycling program if you haven't already.  Remember, change begins with the small, doable things and can lead to huge and amazing changes once we have agreed to leave our 'comfort zone.' 

"To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often."  Thank goodness Winston Churchill never had a chance to see my unchanged and imperfect walls of almost sixteen years!  I don't think pink was even close to being his favorite color, anyway.  But, I get it...  How does anyone note improvement within either themselves or others if there are never any changes made to be used along with a basis of comparison? 

Let's all agree that a solid baseline, or imaginary line, the standard of value by which things are measured or compared, is drawn at birth.  That pretty much places all of us on the Starting Line together!  Our initial change is physical, of course, and constant as we begin to evolve into the person our DNA, environment, peer influences, education and adult examples provide for us.  This is not a permanent 'mold' by which our lives must be measured by.  This mold gives us shape, depth and minimal security and is meant to be broken whenever we feel the urge, the need, to spread our wings and fly.


This new flight pattern can be attributed to a particular teacher, mentor or coach who has had an influence on us.  Even a horrific incident that occurred in our lives such as an accident or the passing of a loved-one can ultimately bring change, sometimes in a negative slant, but often in the form of pulling us up from the depths of despair and raising us to heights that were previously unimaginable.  We will always be influenced by so many factors in our life, however, reflecting upon Anne Frank's wise words, "The final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands."  We must ultimately take responsibility for our actions.

I mentioned before that this new painting project of mine was born from something far greater than myself and reaches across the ocean depths with such power and force that its affect upon all persons should be one of such profound feelings of disquiet that change is inevitable!  No one should feel satisfied, content, unconcerned or complacent about the recent actions spawned by Hate, under the guise of Religion, that has taken place in Paris recently.  "Je Suis Charlie," a powerful slogan that has risen-up from the dark depths of this heinous crime, represents the solidarity we share with our fellow man; the battle cry of Freedom of Speech, Life and the Future of each and every one of us!  If the Haters are not displaced or eradicated, these Freedoms will be in constant jeopardy!

So read the history books from the dawn of recorded time!

Carefully Calculating Change In Our Lives

Tackling the almost eleven foot high dining room walls and covering them with fresh color and a new look is a difficult job, to be sure.  Not changing them after all this time would be a travesty of life.  If I dislike the pink walls....they should be changed.  Besides, getting down and dirty for the sake of a positive change is a cathartic release.  Penned-up emotions are flowing from my paint brush and hands like ice from Elsa's fingertips and forming a metamorphosis from complacent person to highly motivated individual.

If I dislike the injustices served mankind by the treacherous deeds of others, I must react to them because these 'thieves of freedom' mean to eliminate anyone who does not agree with their own set of ideals.  This frightens the hell out of me!  Life is a glorious gift that should not be discarded lightly for we are fragile, mortal beings who live side-by-side, hand-in-hand as we recently witnessed in Paris as people literally filled the Place de la République to march in Solidarity for all of those brutally murdered in the terror attack several days ago! 

Je Suis Charlie As Far As The Eye Can See In Paris
 

Cover Of New Edition Of
CHARLIE HEBDO

The pen and pencil with the words 'Not Afraid' emblazoned on them  have become the symbols of Freedom of Speech around the world.  As a writer, the significance of this is monumental for so many powerful reasons.  The latest cover of Charlie Hebdo proves this point as the satirical magazine that just lost twelve members of its staff refuses to roll over and shut its doors.  Drawn by cartoonist Renald Luzier, it depicts a sad Prophet Muhammad saying that all is forgiven, I am Charlie.  Undoubtedly, this cover will keep the fire burning for a very long time.



JE SUIS CHARLIE, I Am Charlie.....We are ALL Charlie when it comes to freedom and integrity and making the choice to live our lives rather than cave to others who hate so openly.....so desperately, that they are willing to ruin so many precious lives left in the wake of their disturbing swath of destruction.  I don't believe this is exactly what God had in mind when He proclaimed, "Love Thy Neighbor!"

Symbol For Freedom of Speech

With each stroke of my paintbrush, with every swipe of my paint roller, I feverishly cover-up, masque, if you will, the pain and sorrow, death and destruction, and attempts to steal our freedom by all terrorist groups around the world!  The 'pale mauve' is disappearing behind a fresh, new 'face' of paint.  I am becoming stronger, happier and more comfortable in my own skin while I come to terms with what I already knew and already believed.  Long live the power of the pen!!! Je suis Charlie, yesterday, today and tomorrow....

There's absolutely no hope for the pink library walls.  You're.going.down!!!

Liberty, Equality, Fraternity

Copyright © 2015 By Jacqueline E. Hughes
All rights reserved

FRENCH COUNTRY BED & BREAKFASTS: Then and Now

A series of essays.....

The Simple Life of the French Countryside

.....as seen through my eyes!

By: Jacqueline E. Hughes

My heart was lost to France as a young child via her language, people and stunningly memorable landmarks!  Eighth grade French class secured this belief as the French lifestyle, habits (one reason why I may have endeared cigarette smoking throughout my college years), cuisine and history lit up my being with tingling excitement and an imminent lust for travel....and, frankly, all things relating to France in general!

My soul was lost to France the moment my feet touched her soil for the very first time back in August of 1990!  It's funny...   Most people recall their first glimpse of this magical place by the first sight of La Tour Eiffel or the sweet taste of street vendor crêpes melting on your tongue and purchased along the Tuileries Gardens as a light breakfast before investigating  the Louvre for hours.  No.  I initially entered France via automobile along a roaring super highway, the E60, upon leaving Freiburg, Germany.  After paying exorbitant tolls every other kilometer or so, we headed for the first official exit and drifted comfortably into the French countryside. 

~Le Parc des Marechaux~
Auxerre, France

With traffic behind us and our destination the town of Auxerre, situated in Burgundy, for the night, we found ourselves at peace following a meandering, fast-flowing river complete with mini-rapids and a small waterfall.  Stopping along the side of the narrow road to take pictures, I opened the car door and was introduced to my destiny as my right foot touched-down on the firm, French soil for the very first time! I had made it, at last!!



Envelope of Letter Returned to Me Late
1989 For Reservations In August of 1990

Not having the ease of Internet access back then, our stays within larger cities and hotels were reserved via telephone communication.  Connecting with small Bed & Breakfast establishments, our preferred choice to stay at, was accomplished via the mail and several painstakingly hand-written letters in French sent to the owner/manager whose names I had secured from various publications such as BIRNBAUM'S EUROPE 1989 and Karen Brown's FRENCH COUNTRY BED & BREAKFASTS, the ultimate travel guide offering the opportunity to meet the French who welcome travelers into their homes!





Most Helpful Travel Companion

Assuming any of Mademoiselle's "Charming Bed & Breakfasts of France with Descriptions of Over 160 Inexpensive Places to Stay" exist to this day, my question would be, how many of them are still owned and operated by a local......a Frenchperson?  How many of these delightful B&B's of France have surrendered to our changing times? How many still thrive today, as quaint and wholesome as they were back in 1990, but under new owners or management?  I had to know...

Choosing three places from FRENCH COUNTRY BED & BREAKFASTS based mainly upon the criterion of their location (near towns and villages we have been to since our 1990 visit), I set to work on the Internet.

Then:  LA JACQUELINIERE B&B, located in the Loire Valley near the village of Vernou en Sologne.  Owned and hosted by Jacqueline and Auguste Bahuaud.  Two rooms, both with shower or bath, share one WC....water closet/toilet.
Now:  L'OREE DU BOIS, with same address as above and current picture resembling pencil sketch from Karen Brown's book.  Current owners are Danielle and Bernard Schussler.
Notes:  Retained as a privately run Guest House with two rooms by new owners after twenty-four years.  Perhaps a bit of 'bleeding over' from the Alsace area or Germany with the last name of Schussler.

 

La Jacqueliniere Bed & Breakfast

L'Oree du Bois Bed & Breakfast

 
Then:  CHEZ DELESSE, located in the Region of Provence near the ancient Roman town of Vaison la Romaine.  Owned and hosted by François and Claude Delesse.  One room with private bath.
Now:  CHEZ DELESSE, at same address as above with nearly identical description and same pencil sketch of property.  François and Claude have addressed additional income by adding another bedroom that shares the original bath, and a 'spacious' apartment located in a separate wing.
Notes:  The romantic side of me likes to think that these two young people, recently involved in the late 1980's, acquired this property with a two to three part plan of making their very own Gite grow and thrive as they grew older and more comfortable together each year!  Just a writer's fantasy, perhaps.....  Considering the name François is masculine, equivalent to the English name Francis, I am hoping he and Claude have adopted several kids by now.  They deserve them.  And this beautiful family has entered the new millennium in France with the understanding and acceptance due to them.  Just saying....!  This has been my 'Artistic License' forum for the day!     




Chez Delesse.....Then!

Now....Should Read: 175 Year-Old Stone House

Then:  CHEZ KRUMEICH, located in the town of Betschdorf in the Alsace area and is 44 kilometers northeast of Strasbourg.  Owned and hosted by Christian and Joelle Krumeich.  This region of France is known for its blue-toned stoneware and Christian represents the ninth generation of potters in his family.  Three guest rooms with private WC and bath are located above their large pottery workshop.
Now:  CHEZ KRUMEICH, same address as above and still owned and operated by Christian and Joelle.  Upgraded from three to four private rooms, fax number added, and noted on the Michelin Map.  
Notes:  This establishment last appeared in Brown's 2006 publication, Karen Brown's France B&B: Exceptional Places To Stay.

It is amazing that all three of these Bed & Breakfast choices may   exist today in one form or another.  Even though one has come under new ownership and its name has changed, it remains open as a B&B serving tourists from around the world.  The nightly rates, designated nearly a quarter of a century ago, has changed from French Francs to modern-day Euros however, the amount for each private guest room has only risen by a very low percentage throughout the years.  This leads me to believe that the people who initially opened their charming homes to the weary traveler did so with the intent of offering everyone the welcoming feeling of being treated as a cherished guest in a friend's home without the expectancy of becoming wealthy as a direct result of their endeavors. 

"The Bed & Breakfast formula is for any traveller with a taste for adventure who wants to experience the 'real' France, its people and culture," says French Country Bed & Breakfasts.  In France, the B&B is called 'Chambres d'Hotes' and literally means guest bedrooms. As in the United States, the way of life outside of a large city is a fascinating reflection of each country's history and culture.  "The impact of modern civilization is felt, but a pronounced respect for traditions and quality of life remains."

Organization Representing Cottage Rental and Guest Homes in France

Another French term for a holiday home (usually freestanding) available for rent is a Gite.  Gites are generally fully furnished and equipped for self-catering. Technically, to be called a Gite, the owner must live close by in order to provide help, assistance, and a warm welcome to guests.

My favorite quote that I feel lovingly compelled to share with you is:  "Outside of Paris, the land is like a treasure chest filled with wonders of nature and civilization.  There are royal forests still inhabited by stags and wild boars, graceful castles beside peaceful lakes, picturesque stone and half-timbered villages, colorful vineyards and farmlands, medieval walled cities and wild, salty coastlines all waiting to be discovered."

To this I would like to add that the B&B system offers us all of the above and so much more....without even trying.  A stay at one of these establishments provides local answers to any and all of your questions, ample opportunities to meet other travelers and sit with, relax and learn from your conversations together.  The chance to meet your hosts and their families, as well, while making many lasting contacts and friends along the way.  If you are a 'people person' and you enjoy the opportunity to expand your horizons via simple conversation with others.....this system is for you.

Level of comfort and luxury are as individual and varied as the people and homes you will be visiting.  With Internet access today, it is simple to look-up the rates, see a photo gallery and read the descriptions of each private room in order to make a choice that is perfect for you.  Especially helpful are the comments by fellow travelers who have visited the Chambres d'Hotes before you and offer to describe their personal experiences, good, bad or indifferent. 

Another Handy Guide Used
For Our Initial European Journey

It was a pleasure to have once again connected with such positive past experiences and bring them to light here in 2015!  Do not be afraid to venture out and experience the unspoiled and less visited regions of France.  Paris is dazzling....this is so true, and it would take a lifetime of visits to be able to take most of this beautiful city in.  However, a Bed & Breakfast experience is personal, superior in cleanliness and comfort, and is as varied as the landscape itself.  "Spend a night in a chateau dating from the Middle Ages whose stone walls ooze with history, and the next night experience the sights and sounds of a simple farm surrounded by bucolic pasturelands."

People will remain the same, for the most part, even after twenty-five years have flown swiftly by!  We will always seek the simple comfort of one another's company for companionship, knowledge and friendship's sake....!  The experience of traveling abroad to France can be greatly enhanced by taking every opportunity to meet and interact with others and share life's adventures around a breakfast table or in the study by a warm, crackling fire. 

Happy travels to ALL in 2015.....!




Copyright © 2015 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

LIGHTS, LIGHTS AND MORE LIGHTS

A series of essays.....

~~A Bright Red Star~~

.....as seen through my eyes!

By: Jacqueline E. Hughes



"Do you see the magical glow yet?"

"What on earth are you talking about?"

"What happens Thanksgiving Day each and every year since we built this house fifteen years ago?"

"Well, you cook the turkey on the grill.....however, I've yet to see it burst into flames and create a bright light!!



Happy Birthday Lights

I swear this banter between us went on for several agonizing minutes. This is usually 'down time' for us as we sit on the lanai after dinner and talk about our day.  So, a pop-quiz or silly riddle to solve was above and beyond peaceful to me just then.  Considering he had recently  roasted our Rosemary, lemon and clarified butter 'bird' to perfection on his trusty Weber Grill and it had been his birthday the day right  after this.....I decided to give him some slack and play along.

Gazing above the screen enclosure facing a southwesterly direction...hint, hint, hint, he asked me once again, "Do you see the magical glow yet?  You know, the one that lights-up the sky and tends to figuratively 'suck-up' everyone else's energy source until after New Year's Day?"

I'm not remotely suggesting that any form of bright light source graced our softly greying evening sky as I followed his gaze towards the southwest.  As a matter of fact, it wasn't even late enough to catch a fleeting glimpse of the distant firework displays emanating from the various theme parks that thrive several miles away in that direction.  After some careful reasoning on my part, however, the proverbial 'light bulb' suddenly began to shed its light down upon me.  Thank goodness!

"Ahhhh!!  My goodness...how on earth could I have forgotten?" I asked myself.  "I get it...I get it but, I find it difficult to believe there isn't a visible 'glow' over there.  Maybe they moved.  Or, maybe the wonderful HOA (Translation: Crappy Home Owner's Association) put their 'Bah Humbug' stop to it this year!"

"I don't think they can do that...they could try but, I still don't think so," Dan said, with a slight sneer on his face.  Our HOA can be quite a sore subject for us.  But, as I often say....another story, another time.

Sitting there for an additional fifteen minutes or so, watching the detailed  shadows of varying shades of gray slip into a world of deep, impenetrable black, I couldn't take the suspense another second and jumped-out of my chair!  "That's it!  We have to take a walk around the neighborhood!  I have to know!"

I have always referred to our small (by Orlando standards), gated community as 'A Small Slice of Heaven' because our seventy-three stone and stucco homes rest on the old Morgan homestead that featured a working mill that once ground grain into flour and was powered by the small stream that runs right behind our subdivision.  I would enjoy being able to step-back in time and see the waterwheel that worked the machinery of Mr. Morgan's mill and take-in the sight of the many cows and other farm animals that I've been told grazed on the lush grasses growing along the water's bank.  One Floridian family lived and loved, worked and played, flourished and then disappeared long ago...in another era; a different lifestyle.

Grabbing a light jacket to help ward-off the chill of an autumn evening, we proceeded out the front door on our quest for visual affirmation.  Following our street, Morgan's Mill Circle, to the right, we were seven houses back from the bend in the road....and one gentle right turn before the proof we had been looking for would be staring us in the face....or not! 

As we approached house number five, I realized I had forgotten my handy-dandy cell phone which I have come to rely upon as my 'camera-on-the-go' more often than I care to admit. Apologies going out to my trusty Canon EOS.  "Do you want to go back for your phone before we turn the corner?  I suggest we do it now.  It'll only take a few minutes."  Dan was right.  Finally, with i-Phone in hand we backtracked up the street.

Passing house number five, number six, number seven and curving to the right....we stopped dead in our tracks!!  It was like discovering the Holy Grail right in our own backyard or, seeing the Eiffel Tower for the very first time or, watching that lone deer jump out in front of your moving vehicle on a snowy back road in Michigan and your heart stops in mid-beat!!! Yes, just like all of the above......

"Just Around the Corner"

LET THERE BE LIGHT.....or, in this case, so many wonderful, amazing, fascinating and colorful lights in every conceivable and imaginative holiday configuration.  "They've done it again!" was about all I could say because my finger on the phone's camera button was busy snapping away at this amazing sight.  Dan just stood there, mouth open, in absolute awe. 

"Closer....."

I am certain that from a bird's eye view or if looking down from one of the commercial jet liners that pass near us on their landing path into the Orlando International Airport a few miles to the south, a definite glow can be seen radiating up from our neighbor's house. Usually, that many lights on one property could be considered distasteful or gaudy and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation comes to mind here.  However, somehow these folks are able to pull this one off in a joyful, Christmas 'bright' kind of way, with interesting new additions to their 'madness' configured every year.  I only wish I could find some of the original pictures I had taken years ago to be able to contrast and compare today.  I know that the roof had been devoid of lights back then and at least some of the front yard was empty and visible. 

Before our feet could move us further down the street, we reasoned that the bright street lights located near their house must minimize the effect of a  'magical glow' that we hoped to see from our lanai.  And, maybe, just maybe it's all in our heads, anyway.  I will say that by the time we got up close enough to be able to distinguish the unique little compartments making-up the complete picture of this monumental effort, our hearts were once again enlightened by the sheer amount of work put into it. 

"You notice that the people living around it don't even bother to decorate their houses?"  Dan, logically, replied to this, "They don't have to.  All they have to do is keep their curtains opened and they can share in the 'Light' all season long!" 

"Closer still....."

I chuckled to myself thinking that if anyone around that house needed to go to sleep early, black-out curtains on their bedroom windows might be in order.

We finally tore ourselves away from the 'Light' and were able to walk away, even though I found myself turning my head and looking behind me several times.  How could I leave it?  The sight calls and beckons like a moth to a flame. 

Side View

"Where do you think they will go from here?" I asked my husband as he was literally pulling me along....away from the 'Light.'  "I haven't a clue.  Hey, don't we ask ourselves that question every year?  Somehow they always manage to extend themselves."

Successfully making it past several houses down the street, I snapped a picture of another neighbor's decorating efforts and suddenly the words, subtle, calming, clean and tasteful came to mind.  Oh, and did I mention the word....pretty?

Nice Try!!!

Taking into consideration that our 'rambunctious neighbors' happen to live in the center core of the subdivision, with both sides of their house openly exposed from two of the three streets comprising Morgan's Mill, that crazy light bulb flashed-on above me, once again.

"I know the answer," I said, while looking at Dan with a sheepish grin on my face.  And, all I could envision was strings of colorful lights, candy canes, stars, snowmen, presents, trees, wreaths and Saint Nicks slithering over the rooftop like so many bright snakes invading our neighbor's current dark and colorless backyard.....!

Merry Christmas from Morgan's Mill Circle, Orlando, Florida, USA!




Copyright © 2014 by Jacqueline E. Hughes
All rights reserved

GRATEFUL.....

A series of essays.....





~~BREAKING THROUGH THE MORNING FOG~~

.....as seen through my eyes!

By: Jacqueline E. Hughes


When I swing my legs out of bed each morning, before they remotely make contact with the carpeting, there is a small and concise ritual I go through in order to jump-start my day.  With our mornings remaining dark...cozy even, until well after six-thirty, the atmosphere is conducive to a relaxed mood and a clear mindset. 

This is my time to converse with that which I believe to be the all-connecting power that is greater than myself and unites us, mankind, together as a whole; one entity that defines our existence and qualifies our essential nature.  I have always accepted that we are not set upon this beautiful place we live, Mother Earth, alone and helpless. We will always have and need one another.

So, my ritual is one of Thanksgiving....and here all this time you thought this celebration only lasted one day, the fourth Thursday in the month of November, and called "Turkey Day!!"  Not exactly.  I sit comfortably with my shoulders back, my back straight and eyes closed.  When I am ready, after taking several deep, intoxicating breaths, I repeat out loud, as often as I wish, two simple words...two words we teach our children to say whenever they are grateful for something...a new toy, an unexpected surprise or a simple compliment.  I say, "Thank You...Thank You...Thank You!"  Very straightforward.

After all, it's pretty wonderful to be able to move, sit-up and breathe each morning, isn't it?  We are alive to meet-and-greet yet another day and that, in and of itself, is intrinsically cool! 

Opening my eyes to the new day, it's now time to formulate a simple plan for myself.  It's time to set my intentions for the day.  Yes, making coffee as soon as possible is a good plan.  More of a mandatory requirement for my well-being and sanity rather than a good intention, however.  My thoughts are more in terms of having a purpose or a goal set for the day and to design a strategy with the intent of achieving it with grace and dignity.  My goal may be as uncomplicated as intentionally sharing a smile with everyone I meet or being productive and focussed enough to write two-thousand words by the end of my workday.  Whatever my purpose is, my intent is to see it through to fruition knowing that if I do not..., I will not beat myself up over it.  I will only try harder the following day.

This is now the time that I sit back and smile, smile, smile as big and wide as I possibly can!  You know the kind of smile I'm talking about.  The kind that raises your cheeks up high, fills your body with warmth and makes you feel a bit silly sitting alone in the dark looking like the Cheshire Cat on a good day!  With his distinctive and mischievous grin, you can almost hear this Tabby Cat's quote from Lewis Carroll's 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland,' published in 1866, and remains prevalent today: "Most everyone's mad here.  You may notice that I'm not all there myself."

The Cheshire Cat
Illustrated by John Tenniel in the 1866
Publication of 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'

I cannot take myself seriously this early in the morning!  But, I know that my intentions are good and smiling makes me feel good.  So, if  during this long, complicated day, I feel as though my body wishes to disappear from time to time, the last thing visible on my face will be an iconic grin depicting a win for the 'good guys!'

Florida Essentials

Before slipping my waiting feet into the tan, Crocs flip-flops, affectionately known as 'my slippers,' in order to begin my day (by making a fresh pot of coffee), there is one last step to be taken in my morning ritual.  This is the time for me to forgive myself and ease my guilt over  yesterday's mistakes.  I remember the goal of two-thousand words yesterday that only added-up to be five hundred.  Perhaps my smiles were not as lavished upon others as I had originally intended.  Was I a bit too short-tempered with a loved-one who made an innocent mistake? 

This is where you set yesterday's misguided actions aside and actually try to understand Scarlett O'Hara's mantra from the classic movie, 'Gone with the Wind,' based on the novel written by Margaret Mitchell.  "I can't think about that right now.  I'll think about that tomorrow.  After all... tomorrow is another day."  The idea of putting things off for another day always represented inadequacy in the form of  failure or shame.  Placing my stubbornness and strong will aside for a moment in order to see a much broader picture of the world, and having lived, well....., let's just say, a few years now beyond my twenties, the importance of being patient and more tolerant becomes normal and acceptable.  Especially when dealing with myself!

As soon as I realize that there is yet another chance of 'getting it right' and my deep breaths represent twenty-four new hours of hope and determination, it's easy for me to forgive myself for yesterday's mistakes.  It's time to move on....




My Favorite Mug!!

Now, sitting here sipping my coffee and having placed my day, my life, in order, I realize how cherished these few minutes alone each morning really are for me.  Between the tantalizing aroma of the fresh brew and the prospect of a new day, a new beginning.... and with a  smile on my face the Cheshire Cat would certainly be proud of, I remain calm and carry on.

Author's Note:
I am extremely grateful for being able to witness this morning the highly successful launch of the Orion Spacecraft test flight over in Cape Canaveral a few miles away!  Awesome, NASA!  And, continued good luck....



Copyright © 2014 by Jacqueline E. Hughes
All rights reserved