"BIRTH OF A NEW SPIRIT IN AMERICA"

A series of essays.....

RACHEL ROBINSON: ENORMOUS  COURAGE AND MORAL INTEGRITY

.....as seen through my eyes!





By: Jacqueline E. Hughes


This is a message for all of the strong women out there; past, present, and future. This is a message about repression and its flagrant use throughout the history of this great nation.

Last evening, after the Nightly News was watched, our daily events discussed, and dinner consumed, we decided to watch Part One of the Ken Burns' documentary entitled Jackie Robinson which we had recorded a few weeks ago.

As the credits rolled, we must have spent another hour, at least, discussing what had recently been unveiled before us. As the Brits might say......, we were gobsmacked by the revelations compiled and brought to the screen by this ingenious documentarist, with kudos reaching out to his daughter, Sarah, in the 'writing' category.

KEN BURNS

I must say that I am always deeply happy when my own research takes me far below the surface and into places that I'd previously only skimmed over, or remembered from college courses.

Last evening we were formally introduced to this truly amazing couple, Rachel and Jack Robinson, via the spirit, wisdom, and talent of Ken Burns. I know that Rachel and Jackie, both strong and caring individuals in their own right, would have marked great strides down their independent paths......however, together they were a powerful partnership that blossomed constantly within the goodness they created and the hate they were forced to endure.

The blatant hatred of the color of their skin.......a fact that often eclipsed the intelligence, sound judgment, and innate talent possessed by this team, should and will be a blight on our society, forever!

There had to be a good reason we waited until now to watch this documentary. Following this past week of violence by and directed towards our police, it was time to stimulate our sense of equilibrium with another solid dose of reality. Life has a way of taking things from one extreme to the other and, eventually, meeting in the middle, if we're lucky.

"Robinson couldn't have done it without his wife, Rachel," proclaims Burns in an interview with Newsweek. "Rachel was his confident, his rock, and his only refuge from the incessant abuse he endured."

Burns was able to highlight the strength behind the relationship of Jackie and Rachel, college sweethearts, in an interview with Barack and Michelle Obama. Their 'journey' has been similar to Jackie and Rachel's. "Jackie is the first to go through a door back then. The president is the first to go through a door, and he's saying (to paraphrase President Obama in the documentary), that when people are giving you shit for stuff that has to do with the color of your skin, it’s good to go home to where people love you and have your back."

RACHEL AND JACK ON THEIR FIRST DATE

Rachel would always have Jackie's back! "Home was our place away from the world, and it was central," said Rachel. "We made a point not to talk about every negative encounter that happened. That would have been too much. We treated our home like a haven and when you come into a haven you don't want to bring in painful things. You want to cherish it. You use the haven to get yourself ready for the next day."

Rachel graduated from UCLA with a bachelor's degree in nursing and went on to obtain a master's degree in psychiatric nursing from New York University, according to Wikipedia. Last evening, we saw this beautiful lady, mother of three, constantly protect Jackie's back all through the time when Jackie was breaking baseball's color barrier in 1946 and 1947. Later, with Rachel by his side, Jackie went on to fight for Civil Rights in this country and assist in getting John F. Kennedy into the White House.

Number 42, first baseman and shortstop for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Jackie faced adversity from birth: He was born a black man in a white man's world. One of the stipulations he had to comply with as a member of the Dodgers' team was to turn the other cheek when racial hatred came aiming its ugly fist at him. Rachel helped Jackie control his temper and realize exactly why his opportunity/venture into this elite side of baseball was so important to both black and white people alike.

When Number 42 became confronted by racial hatred and bigotry, he defined the moment as the "Birth of a new spirit in America!" He went on to explain that when a white team player defied convention, he was known to possess 'spirit.'  When he, a black player, defied convention, he was noted as 'an uppity n***** or ungrateful.'

Jackie's ability to live a good life with his strong wife and amazing family during this time is a testament to his true spirit. He was an honorable gentleman, family man, and leader who was given exceptional athletic abilities and was able to use them to everyone's advantage. His notoriety as Number 42 helped to launch his career as a Civil Rights advocate and to make his way through new doors as a Black Man who had experienced repression first-hand.

*Fear
*Hate
*Slavery
*Misinterpretation of Religion
*Bullying
*Lack of Education
*Need For Power
*Denial of "All People Created Equal" Under God

*Genuine Lack of Respect For Others
The above are all contributing factors in a world that chooses war over peace, hatred over love, and guns over verbal communication and understanding.

When you can look an adversary in the eyes and say, "I can't treat you right or with genuine respect if I look at you as being inferior to me," you have taken a giant leap in the right direction of understanding racism in America.

Yes, Black lives do matter and should matter to all of us who have never had the color of our skin be a threat to the quality of our life. If Jackie and Rachel Robinson were standing here today, I believe they would say this to all of us who, after so many years, continue to live through these difficult times: "We're all in this together, even if that's not easy."

Greatness, strength, and understanding are ultimately supported from the bottom....up, creating a strong foundation. Respect for others is a right given to all of us at birth. We must never allow others (parents, piers, friends, even high ranking leaders) to take this privilege of equality away from us. Let's teach our children that the color of their skin makes no difference and that we're all equal to one another in this world.

We are eager to absorb Part Two of Jackie Robinson tonight. I will listen, take more notes, and learn from the experience.


Author's Note: Rachel Robinson will turn 94 years young on July 19, 2016. Happy Birthday Beautiful Lady!


Copyright © 2016 by Jacqueline E. Hughes
All rights reserved

A HEALTHY DISTRACTION

 A series of essays.....

STAGE 5 OF LE TOUR DE FRANCE 2016

.....as seen through my eyes!




By: Jacqueline E. Hughes

My Fitbit Charge HD is screaming names out at me from its tiny screen: Mark Cavendish, Peter Sagan, Tejay van Garderen, Fabian Cancellara, "Little Tommy Voeckler," Nairo Quintana......to mention a few. Believe me, the act of 'shaming' leaves everything to the imagination. As a writer, the understanding and utilization of this concept is a daily practice with me.

My "Election Confession" is this: Like many of us, I need a nice, long, healthy break. I require a healthy distraction from poll stats, others telling me how I should feel and think, and too much raw information, positive and negative, being tossed back and forth like fresh eggs at a family reunion competitive event.

What better distraction than the 2016 Tour de France!
Stages: 21 (Legs within the race.)
Riders: 198 (From all over the world!)
Teams: 22 (Nine men per team.)
Duration: Slightly more than three, beautifully long weeks.
Location: As the 'Title' implies....riding sleek, well-balanced bikes throughout French villages and the breathtaking countryside in real time. (Or, at least, for the rest of the world, at the whim of the French television media system...France TV Sport.)

Beautiful narrow roads, plane trees, blue skies, with blue-white-red flags being caressed by a slight breeze are all witnessed and noted as the rhythmic peddling of each cyclist produces gentle sounds and a mesmerizing swaying motion. Quite often the motorcycle camera person follows the riders from behind, documenting and accentuating this syncopated rhythm created by man and machine; liquid poetry in motion! Each element mentioned above helps to transcend this seemingly simplistic sport into a phenomenal experience of the senses.

I am hooked.....and, have been for years!

The timing of the Tour de France could not have been better this year. When I needed a healthy distraction from man-made, political chaos, I found solace within the competition of music and dance atop feather-light bicycles made for speed.

Convincing my Fitbit that sedentary behavior is warranted for several days, at least, is another story. Flipping my arm up and revealing a downsized number of steps taken, miles walked, and calories burned has taken me a step back in physical progress, but a million miles forward in peace of mind and contentment of the soul.

As the French say.....Vive Le Tour!


Copyright © 2016 by Jacqueline E. Hughes
All rights reserved

BASH TALKS TRASH?

 A series of essays.....

DANA BASH IS CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT FOR CNN

.....as seen through my eyes!

By: Jacqueline E. Hughes

I would be remiss, my dear readers, by not pointing out how exceedingly difficult it has been for me not to sully my weekly post with political innuendos, gossip, lies, and half-truths!

Some of my stories may have been innocently (ha hum, clearing my throat) infused with mild opinions and reactions to various political drivel, especially regarding a name I cannot and will not type while utilizing my precious add-on, i-Pad keyboard. I respect my keyboard and, if required, will use the euphemism 'Drumpf' instead.

Fortunately, my story is not directly about Drumpt. I would rather not be a contributor to his devious plan of extracting free media exposure, even on this incredibly minute scale: My blog post! Trust me, I will continue to sleep quite well tonight and on through to the November elections! And, hopefully, beyond.

My story concerns a female journalist (TVNewser) whose employer is CNN, the Cable News Network, owned by the Turner Broadcasting System, a division of Time Warner.

Not long ago, CNN named Dana Bash chief political correspondent, the network's lead journalist covering the Republican presidential candidates, Capitol Hill and elections. Once relegated to the more shadowy corners of the CNN political news stories, Dana has stealthily advanced along the political battlefields before securing her network Purple Heart by fighting in the trenches. After all, she is covering the Republican Party.

It was a particular analogy Dana used several days ago that ultimately roller-coastered me from one emotion to another within seconds. In referencing Elizabeth Warren's endorsement of Hillary Clinton, along with Warren's recent 'tag-a-long approach' designed to mirror Secretary Clinton and intelligently expose Drumpf (sorry, I had to mention him here) for the person he truly is, Dana compared Warren's position to that of Sarah Palin! What in the world was she talking about?

I was crushed! How could anyone dare to say the name of Sarah Palin within the same breath used to mention Senator Elizabeth Warren? And, Dana was comparing these two individuals as if they had any personality traits that could be compared adroitly with in the first place. So, I sat and I listened and.....I learned.

"If you think about it," she said, as I sat staring craters into the flat screen before me, "Elizabeth Warren's self-proclaimed status within the Democratic Party is quite similar to the one Sarah Palin held for the Republicans." Ouch!! "Both women hold similar positions within their parties that are particularly designed to push, pull, and enhance the positive attributes of the nominee they are supporting."

Okay. Perhaps I can calm down a little bit and try to understand all of this.

"In essence, they serve as cheerleaders for their candidate." I think I see where this is going. "And, with loud voices and passionate outcries, they expound the political beliefs of their candidate and encourage the voters to understand why their vote really does matter."

Now, my poor brain was immediately dressing Elizabeth in her preferred color 'blue' replete with "I'm For Her ---->" sewn-on patches, megaphone, and flashy blue and white pom-poms! Somehow, I failed to dress-up Ms. Palin in my mind because I still couldn't forget the black and silver disco 'go-go' outfit she wore while endorsing (you know who) months ago. All I could imagine was each silver tassel swinging wildly across her chest as she shook and quaked with the fervor of an Appalachian minister on a sweltering Saturday night.

I 'got it.' The analogy was not lost on me and what Dana said made sense. Like good little soldiers, whether we agree with it or not, each cheerleader embraces their candidate's ego with open arms and carries their ideals and beliefs on their shoulders like tasseled, velvet epaulets....high ranking and loyal to a fault.

One must ask if this burdensome task was spawned by a true alliance with the values held by their candidate? Or, are sweet treats and political rewards the incentives dangled in front of them like juicy carrots? We will let our conscience be our guide with this one.

Either way, the role of these two 'cheerleaders' is similar. I will admit that. Their style (message)......as different as day and night.

When Warren, with microphone in hand and steel in her eyes, lets loose with frustration, you can feel the years of hard work and passion that she's contributed to the well-being of each and every one of us. She is a force of nature, just like Hillary Clinton herself, and a person that anyone would be proud to have by their side.

Thank you, Dana Bash, for making it real for me. Each side has drive and ambition, however, the packaging and standards can be, and are, entirely different.

Copyright © 2016 by Jacqueline E. Hughes
All rights reserved

DISCOVERING THE PULSE OF FRANCE: FRIENDSHIPS

A series of essays.....

"I DO BELIEVE......I DO BELIEVE, IN FRIENDSHIP AND ADVENTURE!"

.....as seen through my eyes!




By: Jacqueline E. Hughes


I am not a particularly superstitious sort of person. Although, I have been known to 'cross my fingers for luck' upon occasion. Usually, however, you will find me praying to my angels for help and support in navigating this amazing world we call home.

Last weekend, Dan and I were enjoying a delightful lunch at P. F. Chang's Restaurant in Winter Park Village. Even though I take the time to peruse the menu, I end up ordering the 'Sweet & Sour Chicken' every time. It was delicious, by the way! Along with our check, the waiter offers two folded, edible wafers containing a slip of paper with a printed maxim or prediction written on it. We both succumb to our own curiosity, gobble the fortune cookie, and read the tiny, white slips that had recently nestled inside them.

Several years ago, I began writing a series of essays entitled "The Road to Sablet" where I chronicled the events and personal feelings I experienced leading up to our initial visit to the south of France. The series was emotionally charged and I remember feeling like a small child standing in front of a candy store waiting to be told when I could run inside to fill-up my pail with as many sugary treats as possible. Unquestionably, my anticipation to live in Sablet for a week felt just like that.

Today, as we anticipate our second visit to the south of France, I begin to realize that there might just be something to the predictions printed on those tiny slips. Am I becoming a true believer of these minute forcasts after all of these years?

"Many memorable adventures are in store for you," unfolded before my eyes and it didn't quite 'send me over the moon' considering I've always felt that living and enjoying my every day existence is quite a 'memorable adventure' in and of itself! It did intrigue me, though.

My curiosity was not aroused to its fullest potential until Dan unfolded his slip which read, "Old friends will spark new adventures."

Even though we will be celebrating our wedding anniversary in France again this year (not too shabby, I know), this particular visit has been concentrated around the sensation and general theme of 'reunion.' The intent of our celebration is one of friends coming together to joyfully fill in the gaps of information based on the lack of recent physical presence, and bind together a fissure that was designed and created by space and time itself.

Our story begins.....

Several months ago I heard that a rediscovered friend (friendship), which had been rekindled by social media, but continually fueled by similar interests and genuine camaraderie for the past several years, was thinking along the same lines as we were. Michael, a fellow Francophile, and his wife, Marsha, were hoping to discover the many historical and artistic attributes of Provence this year. At the same time, Dan and I were planning our return trip there.

Provence is the geographical region and historical province of southeastern France. To visit Provence is walking in the footsteps of Paul Cézanne, Vincent van Gogh, and Auguste Renoir, now famous painters who converged on Provence, drawn in by the climate and clarity of the light which is partly the result of the Mistral winds. This particular wind of Provence tends to be cold and dry and often removes dust from the atmosphere which greatly increases visibility.

To explore Provence is to imagine the influences of the Greek traders who lent their name to the Rhône River, the main river of Provence. The fertile land along the Rhône cultivates stellar grape crops that serve mankind well by producing a magnificent variety of Rhône Valley wines.

To understand Provence is to infuse oneself into its history, savor the delicious Provençal fare, drink her wines, and really, really get to know the people who live there.

With an open heart and mind, we wondered if Michael and Marsha might like to share time with us in Provence. We were delighted when they agreed. Within a week or two, at the most, accommodations were booked, a vehicle was slated to be rented, and airline tickets were purchased.

We will be meeting up with them in Avignon, capital of the Vaucluse, an intoxicating city full of history and rich with life. I have often written about the glories of and the gracious 'gems' to be found in this fair city and warn visitors to heed the siren call because Avignon will entrance you and you will never wish to leave.

Accompanied by good friends, from here on out, reunions and celebrations will abound. We are packing as much as possible into our ten days in France while allowing ourselves enough time to breathe in and enjoy the beauty that will surround us there.

From our 'room with a garden view' we will traverse the cobbled streets of Eygalieres and meet up with French artist, Nadine Fourre, renowned for her 'Sculpture en Balance' with a Zen influence of stone, driftwood, and sand. Michael, our friend and talented artist in his own right, will delight in this meeting as we hope to tour Nadine's studio, discuss ideas, and glean a better understanding of the art movement within France.

From our 'room with a balcony' at Le Verger, Chambres d'Hotes en Luberon, owned and operated by our friends, Daniele and Jean-Philippe Rossi, we will once again be completely charmed by the beauty of the Luberon. Dan is savoring a repeat performance of immersing himself in the culinary delights of Daniele's homemade croissants and fig jam! My heart and eyes are aching to behold our friends again after so many years (and numerous grandchildren on both sides) of being apart!

Then it will be off to Arles where we may traverse the Gallo-Roman theater or walk in the footsteps of Vincent van Gogh and, with any luck, observe a 'Starry Night Over the Rhone' firsthand.

Our next to last night in France, Dan and I will be meeting up with friends, David and Ray, in the resort town of Collioure, France. David and Ray moved to Barcelona, Spain several years ago from Orlando, Florida. David's invitation included a grand tour of Barcelona which will have to be rescheduled due to time constraints. However, Dan and I, wholeheartedly, look forward to our personal Spanish tour the next time around.

It is off to Nice, and our last night in Provence, to enjoy an evening stroll along the Mediterranean and navigate the narrow avenues of 'Old City' for dinner and conversation before flying home in the morning. Who could ask for anything more?

If we are extremely lucky, we might be able to meet with our friend, Claudine, in Aix-en-Provence for hugs, kisses, and an apéritif along the avenue Cours Mirabeau. You may recall through my earlier posts how Claudine assisted in getting our rental car returned to us after it had been towed away during our last visit to Aix. We have been indebted to her ever since.....

As yet another year of growing together side-by-side is cherished and celebrated, Dan and I know how much we have to be grateful for. We never take anything for granted.

We are looking forward to 'old (and yet to be discovered) friends sparking new adventures.' Michael and Marsha are testaments to this, already!

My personal thrill is holding the pulse of France in my heart via all of these fine people who have and will contribute to the many stories I have left in me. Stories to be written, shared, read and reread as time goes by.

Similar to the Irish storytellers and historians of old, the Shanachie, whose speech and gestures characterized their art, hopefully, the written words of modern storytellers (writers) will encourage and emphasize our need to travel and communicate with others around the world.


Copyright © 2016 by Jacqueline E. Hughes
All rights reserved

"ORLANDO UNITED"

 A series of essays.....

BEAUTIFUL RAINBOWS CRISSCROSSING OVER ORLANDO, FLORIDA

.....as seen through my eyes!

By: Jacqueline E. Hughes

Like beacons in the night, the digital highway signs above us along the 417 were guiding us home with their bright flashing messages of "ORLANDO UNITED!" 

"AMBER ALERT," or "HEAVY TRAFFIC NEXT 10 MILES," or "SILVER ALERT" need not apply here. "ORLANDO UNITED" was showing us the way home tonight. And, we were almost there!

The colliding evening sea breezes between the Gulf and the Atlantic decided to take a late hit as the skies opened up above us along I-95 near Palm Coast a short while before. For the last forty-five minutes our world had been wrapped in a cloak of darkness that was sporadically illuminated by bright flashes of intricate lightening bolts tossed at us from a hostile eastern sky! 

Happy about our final leg of driving after a long, long day on the road, and feeling comforting warmth on the back of my head, I decided to text our two daughters of our imminent arrival. "The fiery red sun is in full bloom low in the western sky and we are between Sanford and home! There are at least three rainbows to the east! And, it's still raining! WOW!" What a magnificent welcoming party! What a glorious sight!

It felt as if the highway signs had teamed up with the sun, rainbows, and rain in welcoming us back to a place we've, literally, grown up in for twenty years. And, true to nature, the growing pains have hurt, as well as inspired us along the way.....

Growing pains. All large cities have them. It's a challenge to keep up with the needs and constant fluctuations of the multitudes that incorporate so many various ideas and desires. Death. It surrounds all of us every day, big city or small town, in one way or another. With life there will always be death. Senseless Death? Hate? Gun Violence? Please help me understand these acts because I'm having a major problem here!!!

Rainbows in the eastern sky. The souls of the recent gun violence victims from the massacre at 'Pulse,' an Orlando nightclub located on Orange Avenue, in the very early hours of Sunday morning, were still making their way Home. The brilliant colors comprising each rainbow, representing their vibrancy and pure joy of life, were vehicles assisting in their climb up to the heavens along perfectly formed arches.....God's elegant gateway to Bliss. 

The 'tears of the survivors' that we have been shedding for these innocent souls are splashing down upon us in the form of rain from the Heavens above. God's way of stripping off the dirt and grime of travel; cleansing us of the filthy, tangible atmosphere of Hate and Fear.

The blood orange evening sun, now large and bold having broken through the angry black cloud cover, coupled with the bright digital signs right above our car, warmly light our way as we pass by the exit to Orlando Sanford International Airport, our personal gateway to Michigan, and over the bridge at Lake Jesup, spanning its calm, lazy alligator-filled existence. These landmarks exist between time and space and embed into one's very being given exercise and time. 

Yes! I truly understand and believe that rolling along the 417, we have become witnesses to this miracle of Life and Death. 

As a 'survivor,' I welcome the challenge that exists for those of us who clearly see the backwardness of our society and are capable of standing up to the idea that a gun-toting, miserable and mentally insane loner can cause such damage to everything we hold dear. Let's check a person's mental stability at the front door of every gun shop, gun show, and NRA meeting that exists today!

And, by the way, the National Rifle Association is an organization, according to the New Oxford American Dictionary, founded in 1871 that promotes the legal use of guns and gun safety in the United States. It defends a U.S. citizen's constitutional right to own and bear arms. 

You see....I have a problem with accepting an archaic law that refuses to change or upgrade with the times. Let's pull ourselves out of the Wild, Wild West and actually admit that circumstances and people do change over time. More guns will never make it right! And, just for the record, isn't a large part of "gun safety" about protecting the innocent?

Owning another human being as a machine to provide labor for one's personal benefit and enrichment is ARCHAIC! Telling half of the nation's population (women) that they cannot vote....is ARCHAIC! Pulling your gun from its holster in order to shoot another human being because he or she is taking what you believe to be a personal possession of yours (Such as land, space, gold....) is ARCHAIC and very much related to modern day road rage and pure hatred of those around you. 

You do see my point, don't you? What was written up in the year of our Lord, 1871, may not apply in the same way in 2016. Times change. Circumstances change. The world evolves. People within a society should evolve along with these changes. Laws and regulations need to match the changing times. Many refuse to believe this and continue to act like small children soon to be denied their 'toys of choice.' If organizations such as the NRA convince you that your life is threatened and your 'toys' are required to maintain the wellbeing of your existence.....then, what better way to do so than to convince you that there are terrorists, unstable minds, unmitigated hatred constantly surrounding you?

Create the seed and hashtag it #power and you will find you've created monsters legally possessing lethal weapons.

Create the seed and hashtag it #Love and you will find that Love attracts more Love and can be shared throughout the world....  

Orlando nightclub shooter, Omar Mateen, and the killer of the twenty-two year old singer, Christina Grimmie, this past Friday at The Plaza Live in Orlando, should both be filed under 'mentally unstable' and yet....both were sold guns. Both succeeded in annihilating the innocent lives of those they had targeted for whatever reason. 

CHURCH LOCATED IN BOONE, NORTH
CAROLINA, OFFERING PRAYERS OF
HOPE AND LOVE FOR ORLANDO

As a reasonable human being, I cannot justify this unreasonable behavior. I will not attach a certain lifestyle to a "God given right" if it means the death of innocent people. I refuse to glorify young women and girls posing with handguns and attack rifles in a 'Charlie's Angels' like opening scene. I am still shaking my head after seeing my niece and her young daughter engaged in this imagery on Facebook! 

This is not "I am woman; hear me roar..." material. When women take pride in themselves, we see them flocking to the poles on Election Day, working hard to secure equal pay for the same job done by men, and maybe, just maybe, ensuring the fundamental rights of women over their own bodies instead of taking the lead from men who believe they know what's best for all women. The power I seek will be securing all of the above in my lifetime for myself, my daughters, and their daughters. For ALL women in the future! And, I will be voting for our nation's first female president in November in order to assist in making this country a better place where both women and men can coexist in mutual tolerance despite different ideologies or interests.

Talk is cheap....as the old saying goes. The words and actions of a self-proclaimed racist, egomaniac, and all-around nasty man will fire-up the masses, including those who think along the same vein as he does; their latent hatred being encouraged and served-up on a platter reinforced by Fear itself. May they tumble around in their massive machine of bigotry and denial (often under the guise of religious beliefs) until some sense of reality is forged from their actions. Their power is weak and self-serving. Their leader is, as well. The sad part is that this guy is crazy dangerous with his many twisted lies and opinions that are untethered to reality.

My friend, Amanda Patterson, shared a post on Facebook, written by Gareth Van Onselen for The Rand Daily Mail, suggesting diseases affecting South African politics. I am applying it to American politics, as well. "Entitled: The Instability Itch. Description: Instability itch manifests as a compulsion to disrupt or destabilize order by introducing chaos and uncertainty into a situation. Symptoms: Randomness, irresponsibility, and patronage." I believe it fits in our case quite well.

Light and Hope shined into our car windows just a few miles from our house bringing peace and contentment into my heart. I knew that coming back home to Orlando carried its heavy burden of grief for the lives so indiscriminately taken away from our community. And, for those they left behind. Knowing that I had to decide how to live with the pain and attempt to make the changes needed to make things better, I turned to my writing.

My words do matter. And I will continue to write them for all who are willing to read them and hope for a better life; a better, kinder life in a world filled with change and renewal.

If the written word is a means of replacing or repairing something that is worn out, run down, or broken, then there is a general need for more people to open up and relate how they feel to others. Simply put, we cannot afford to allow bigotry, walls, hatred, the ego, and negative power to take over our lives. 

Coming home to "ORLANDO UNITED" was living proof of this....!

That's the spirit we see in Orlando!

Remember that Love is what will always matter the most!

REMEMBERING THE LIVES SO BRUTALLY TAKEN
FROM US BY SENSELESS GUN VIOLENCE
IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA, 6-12-2016

Note: At this time I would like to extend my condolences to the Graves family from Elkhorn, Nebraska, who lost their two-year- old son, Lane, at the Grand Floridian Resort at Walt Disney World. Prayers are being sent out to help you carry this burden and let you know how much you are loved..... 

Copyright © 2016 by Jacqueline E. Hughes

All rights reserved

COFFEEHOUSE CHATTER ~ FOUR GOOD FRIENDS

A series of essays.....

THE PERFECT BREAKFAST

.....as seen through my eyes!

By: Jacqueline E. Hughes


From time to time, our neighborhood friends meet at the corner coffeehouse to relax, sip their favorite brew or concoction, and warm-up their hands and hearts...together!

Some might think of their meeting as a 'cleansing' or 'purification of the soul.' Even though they may share similar backgrounds and values, their ideas and opinions are as diverse and variable as the weather outside of the little shop.

Let's grab a cup of our own, take a comfortable seat, sit back and listen to what today's chapter of 'Coffeehouse Chatter' has to offer....









 JANIS: Yes, our favorite table right next to the window! Looks like we beat Dan and Rosie here for a change. Usually, their clock ticks a bit faster than ours ever does and they are the first ones to arrive at every function we go to together. Even when meeting for coffee....

BOB: Isn't that the truth? Dan's stride alone must reach three feet because I can never keep up with him just walking. Thank goodness we rent a cart when playing golf. (Chuckles to himself)

JANIS: I remember when my dear Mother used to say that you and I would be late to our own funerals? I smile now....but, she was probably right. Oh, there's Rosie. Over here, by the window!

ROSIE: (Amid hugs and cheek kisses..) So good to see you. Dan's over getting our morning shot of caffeine. How are you both? Isn't it absolutely gorgeous out this morning? I do believe that spring has finally sprung. Right?

BOB: And, it sure took its long, sweet time!

JANIS: When it snowed on my garden last week.....I almost cried in disbelief. Say, did you get a new watch, Rosie? It's quite different.....

DAN: Hello, hello, hello! Mind if I sneak in here? This coffee is hot!

BOB & JANIS: Good morning, Dan!

DAN: Sorry to be late. We had to slip in a few more steps before indulging in our favorite brew this morning.

JANIS: Dan, you have the same quirky looking watch on as your wife. Are you twins for the day or what?

DAN: The same watch? Oh....no, these are our new Fitbits.

ROSIE: I guess you could say they are watches, too. (Shaking her arm, the current time appears in the small screen on her wrist) Gothic black; goes with everything!

BOB: Fitbits. I've heard of them. Always sounded like puppy kibble or something like that.

JANIS: I've heard of them, too. I always thought they went along with a local gym membership. You know, to check on your work-out progress. (Pause) Say, have you two joined a gym!?!

DAN: Nope. But, we have been taking our health and fitness one step further, lately. It was, sort of, on a dare. Okay, challenge, if you will.

ROSIE: That's right. Lizzy challenged us. It's really a cute story.

JANIS: Lizzy? But, she only just turned nine, didn't she? Challenging her grandparents at such a young age. What on earth is this all about?

ROSIE: Well, for her birthday, as a matter of fact, Lizzie received her very own Fitbit.....a new model called 'Alta' in her favorite color, purple.

DAN: It connects with the Internet and records just about everything you do in one given day: Your heart rate, how many steps you walk, how many stairs you climb, and how many calories you burn, for example.

BOB: I still don't understand how she is challenging you, though.

ROSIE: She connected with us via the Internet, Bob. We can see how many steps she takes in one day and compare that amount with our own steps. A good goal to set is, at least, ten thousand steps per day.

JANIS: Wow! That sounds crazy! Oh, not the Internet connection. The ten thousand steps per day.... That seems enormous!

ROSIE: It really isn't.

DAN: (Gingerly sipping from his steaming cup) The craziest part is how Lizzy's challenge has brought out the 'inner beast' in both of us.

BOB: How's that?

DAN: Well, Rosie and I have always been a bit, shall we say, competitive when it comes to sports, board games, and who's right or wrong about something. (Smiling) Just in case you hadn't noticed after all this time.

JANIS: Really? (Sarcastically) Okay....but, we've never chastised either one of you about it now, have we?

BOB: So, Lizzy opened-up a 'can of worms' or is this a good thing?

ROSIE: Lizzy motivated us to move more. Walk more. Exercise more. But, most importantly, live more.

DAN: And, by doing it together, it's a gratifying experience that we share every day. Oh, and Kay has an Alta, too. She and Lizzy challenge each other, as well as us.

JANIS: When on earth does that daughter of yours have the time in her busy schedule to be motivated to walk, run, or exercise? Kay has so much on her plate already with her stressful office job while helping to raise two active children!

ROSIE: You see....that's the point. The dilemma is in thinking that within all of life's hectic busyness, we don't have time to think about ourselves. Our own health and well being.

DAN: Challenging one another to keep moving, no matter what, is the general idea behind all of this. And, it took a nine year old to show us the light! Kay walks to have lunch with her co-workers. Lizzy checks out how many steps she's already taken by pushing a button. See....here, I'll show you on mine. (Footsteps tracking across the small screen) Over five-thousand steps and the day is still young.

BOB: I, for one, am duly impressed.

JANIS: It's really all about CHANGE, isn't it? I mean, changing your lifestyle for the better. Appreciating the life that we have....

ROSIE: It is. Thank you, Lizzy! Now I park farther out in a parking lot, use the stairs as much as possible, and Dan and I push one another to remain motivated all of the time. In a good way.... (Smiling)

JANIS: The four of us have understood the benefits of eating well with more fresh vegetables and fruits, and no processed sugars. That was a huge change. And, we've all survived. I suppose you're never too old to learn something new.

DAN: Absolutely!

BOB: Well, your marriage is strong. I think this might work out.

JANIS: And, ours isn't? You old goat. Please rustle us up another cup of coffee and then these two are going to walk us through securing a pair of these cute, little 'handcuffs' for ourselves. Change for the better is always a welcome experience....

DAN & ROSIE: No problem!


Copyright © 2016 by Jacqueline E. Hughes
All rights reserved

KEEPING THE BUNNY FROM GOING DOWN FOR THE COUNT!

A series of essays.....

THE ENERGIZER BUNNY IS DOWN FOR THE COUNT
Picture Courtesy www.flickr.com

.....as seen through my eyes!

By: Jacqueline E. Hughes


How do they do it?

Such a simple question. But, can it garner a simple response?

High energy, seemingly non-stop itineraries, and selling/defending one's self each exposed step along the journey, pretty much sums up the political candidate running in a Presidential Primary Race. Every four years, 'we the people' become more and more aware of this hectic, fast-paced schedule due to constant media coverage and the twenty-four hour scrutiny of each candidate.

Growing older hasn't debilitated me whatsoever in the sense that climbing an Irish mountain or swimming sixty laps of the pool are activities best not left shelved in my doting old age. A few aches and pains come along with the territory but, most of us wear them like a badge of courage marking the long, full lives we've been blessed with, so far.

It is essential that we play hard, work passionately, which helps to maintain mental clarity, and rest incrementally while eating well to sustain health and well-being.

Even though running for political office would appear to completely drain a person both physically and mentally, the possibility of becoming the next leader of the Free World would certainly be a hyper adrenaline rush; seeing an increase in the rate of blood circulation, breathing, and preparing the muscles of the body for extreme exertion. High levels of adrenaline, the hormone epinephrine, can cause these temporary increases due to the amount of sugar in the blood, which can be used by the body as fuel when more alertness or greater physical effort is required. These hormones prepare the body for "fight or flight" in conditions of stress.

Wow! That completely explains why Hillary, confidently, consumed an entire ice cream sundae on camera during the New York Primary!

The old adage, 'what goes up must come down,' would surely apply here. Gravitational pull is a force to be reckoned with whether speaking of facial wrinkles (not that I would know anything about this example!), planes flying from place to place, or throwing a stone up into the air....these things can't remain 'up' forever! Even the body while 'up' on adrenaline, will come back down to normal hormone levels, eventually.

When do these stalwart political warriors crash and burn-out along the long road of campaign living? After all, they are only human, aren't they?

THE BUNNY GETTING ZAPPED WITH
A HIT OF ADRENALINE....POWER CHARGED!

Both Hillary and Bernie have several years on me and they are, seemingly, nonstop-able! Not that you would ever find me with my eyes on such an enormous prize but, I would settle for at least one 'bestseller,' before too much longer....

Anyway, the question remains, how can such a fast pace be sustained without interruption for long periods of time without taking a toll upon each candidate? Motivation, competition, and power. These are the aromatic carrots being dangled from the tall White House ceilings today. It's the 'Out with the old. In with the new' kind of vibes that are reverberating around Washington D.C. these days as President Obama and First Lady, Michelle, begin the arduous task of vacating their home of nearly eight years. Your comforting presence there will be gravely missed by so many, Mr. President.

By the way, in this age of social media, we can find out a lot about a person just by what he decides is necessary to tweet about others on his Twitter account. His (difficult for me to even type his name) shaming of the color 'Red' has been highly successful given a heart filled with hate, fear, and ignorance, as well as via personal hair coloring and fake skin tone. I suppose it doesn't take much time or thought for some candidates to show their hate for others these days.

The point is......and, I am not referring to being pointless and asking Bernie to please refrain from impolitely indicating things with his fingers.....are we ultimately the 'winners' here if it means taking precious time off of the life of our candidates by putting them through such a grueling campaign process?

Taxpayers, the press, and economists often speak about the high cost of campaigning with its many corrupt implications. Well, I am here to empathize with the political candidates themselves, their demanding schedules, and the idea that they must be seen and heard in the right place and time at any given moment of the day or night!

All I ask is that the educated and intelligent among us choose wisely this November after considering all of the facts. May the right, albeit exhausted, candidate hang a hat in the White House this November and serve to continue the long, difficult job that Barack Obama so astutely began with honor and grace for all people....no matter the color of their skin or religious beliefs.

Both of you should get some much needed rest whenever you can. The next few weeks promise to be a roller coaster of a ride.

I am very proud to say that.....

Copyright © 2016 by Jacqueline E. Hughes
All rights reserved