WHITE CARS

 A series of essays....

 

NATURE'S BEAUTIFUL WORLD OF WHITE

....as seen through my eyes!

By: Jacqueline E Hughes

I have never owned a white car. 

What does this say about me? 

I remember deep, white porcelain sinks that aluminum pans would always mark and scar.

I remember borrowing long, white, cotton gloves from my best friend to wear to the prom.

Stuffing white Bobby/Poodle socks into black and white saddle shoes was a daily routine.

Stuffing white tissues into my bra was never necessary, I’m proud to say.

Come to think about it, boyfriends I dated never owned or drove white cars either.

I did drive a cream colored Chrysler Le Baron many years ago. Poor car kept breaking down all of the time and began to rust away little by little, inch by inch. Even the interior was what we called ‘Granny-gold cloth’ that would stain just by looking at it. Nothing about this car was white!

My parents rented several white houses before purchasing one in Three Rivers, Michigan.

This is the home I carried my white wedding dress into the weekend of my marriage.

I accept white toothpaste that tastes like mint.

I accept the consumption of yellow cheese even when I know it began as white cheese.

Dad never purchased a white car during the many years I remember him driving. Pale blue, deep brown, definitely black, there may have been several shades of green, metallic midnight blue, but not a white vehicle that I can recall.   

Car colors tend to be trendy. When times are gay and upbeat with a good economy to show for it, cars can reflect this positive feeling through bright and cheery colors. When times are more difficult, car colors are more neutral and subdued reflecting the vibe of the people purchasing them. The last several years have given us lots of white, gray, silver, and black cars to choose from. 

A DRIVE THROUGH THE
COUNTRYSIDE IN A SHINY, WHITE CAR!

                                                               Courtesy of www.postercorner.com

Are we working on eliminating boring colors moving along our streets, roads, and highways....finally? Are vibrant paint colors making a comeback after several years of worrisome depression? Will splashy car colors help to fill a void and cheer-up the current mood of doom and gloom we seem to be living with today? If so, this could be a trend we can all learn to support and embrace.

White walls were safe walls in every apartment I’ve ever lived in or visited.

 White wall tires....a thing of the past or a retro statement?

It seems we either embrace the color white to its fullest potential or consider it to be ‘old farmhouse’ with black trim and unhinged shutters slanting within midday shadows. White is all or nothing. White is a perfect compliment to a world filled with uncertainty and darkness. Yet, too much of it can be boring and lifeless to the eye’s colorful palette. White is clean, neat, and tidy. White can compliment all other colors. White trim helps to frame bright and colorful walls; so-called unsafe walls that reject the simple, boring, go-with-everything theory of temporary apartment living.

Back and forth...tug and pull...uninspiring for some...a blank canvas to others!

I like the way the ambient light sparkles off of the textured surfaces of large, artisan, white tiles of a kitchen backsplash, creating movement and flow. My mouth waters at the sight of shimmering white meringue swirled high upon a lemon pie or carefully baked and dried awaiting a filling of precious, French cream. I am inspired by a sheet of blank, white paper or an i-Pad screen filling-up with ideas and scenarios far beyond normal comprehension as my imagination runs rampant.

If white fills me with great pleasure and innocent memories, why have I never owned a white car before? 

And yet, so many cars I see every day still tend to be white. Are we continuing to fill a void with trepidation; settling on living in a joyless world of lies and deceit? I believe it's time for this trend to reverse and we begin to fill our lives, once again, with bold colors and vibrant expectations.

THE WHITE HOUSE, SURROUNDED
BY THE BRILLIANT BLUE AND GREENS
OF NATURE'S COLOR PALETTE

Copyright © 2019 by Jacqueline E Hughes

All rights reserved

THE TEARDROP

A series of essays....

NATURE'S GENTLE TEARDROPS NURTURE AND CULTIVATE
OUR CROPS, FLOWERS, AND SPIRITS

....as seen through my eyes!




By: Jacqueline E Hughes

 

A very wise woman once told a group of her poetry students that by revealing their deepest and darkest emotions via their work and calling them Rant Poems was good for the mind and the soul and should be executed at least once a month or whenever the situation requires it. I will admit that I’ve taken this sage advice to heart many times while writing my weekly essays for Moving On...2019. 

Living in a ‘Drumpfster’ world has only elevated the appeal for ranting away at the injustices, hateful strategies, and deadly effects that his desire for obtaining more and more money has had on the entire world! Plastering a name on as many gross and expensive monuments as possible could never create the legacy he is hoping for. Ultimately, his ugliness and hate will go down in the history books and the harmony and love of those he wronged will overshadow his evil.            

Our personal frustration of not being able to instantly purge the furious emotional state we have all been placed in is greatly enhanced by at least two to three (or more) inhumane atrocities he throws out into the ethos each day. Bending our spirit, twisting precious customs, and abusing the attitude and culture of the moral elements of decency most of us live by, we find ourselves ranting at one another trying to figure out why all of this is happening while creating unnecessary chaos and stress. 

I often wonder about the legacy he is leaving for his own grandchildren. Will all of the money in the world protect them from global warming and the imminent path to destruction of our Mother Earth? Nobody can live in a sterile bubble for very long without the breathe of contamination seeping into the cracks and destroying their tiny world.

But, it is the uncontrolled, blatant, and just plain ugly acts of pure hate and lack of concern towards mankind that blows me away...! We, our nation’s citizens, pay for the protection of this horrible man and his family as he not only fails to protect the people he should be serving, but goes out of his way to harm our environment, strike down our hard-earned benefits, and not think twice about separating families, locking-up children, or creating the cause that has brutally murdered our own allies and handed the Kurdish people over to sworn enemies in the hopes of their own survival. 

With skin tone and profit margins being his ultimate guidelines towards the approval or disapproval of human life, he has single-handedly awoken and empowered white supremacy and forced our journey, our progressive movement, backwards in time. Supporting our right to vote him out in 2020 helps to pacify me, but not as much as the possibility of impeachment with a vote to withdraw his presence from office due to his insane, harmful, and destructive judgments while serving in the White House. 

I will continue to rant and rave about the injustice and pain so many people must endure because of his callousness, ‘strategy of total defiance,’ and inability to love anyone but himself.

REPRESENTATIVE ELIJAH CUMMINGS

                                                      Courtesy of the Associated Press

This morning we woke-up hearing about the sad and untimely death of Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland at age 68. As chairman of the Oversight Committee, his hard work  included overseeing investigations ranging from the impeachment inquiry, treatment of migrants at the southern border to the historical grilling of Michael Cohen earlier this year. Tears well in my eyes as I think about the amazing and loving life of this beautiful man. He will be missed, honored, and esteemed forever. Yet another huge loss for democracy and mankind in general.

The poem, The Teardrop, written in late 2018, helps me to cope with the new world that surrounds me as I age, navigate through major changes in my life, and engage in current political fiascoes. My poetic mentor would understand my softer approach to ‘ranting’ and, hopefully, give her approval. 

THE TEARDROP

   by: Jacqueline E Hughes

The tear slides 

down the soft folds 

of aging skin and follows 

the curve of chin 

until, defying gravity, it

dangles there for a moment. Falling,

falling, falling it drops,

plunging through time and space, filling the

gap between pain and sorrow;

offering little hope 

for its creator. It pops 

like a tiny bullet and

explodes in a fury of blue ink

on white paper. Blending, 

blending, blending, its 

singular journey obliterating a 

heartless good-bye.

Copyright © 2019 by Jacqueline E Hughes

All rights reserved

Photo Copyright © 2019 by Jacqueline E Hughes

All rights reserved

38 PLACES AND THINGS I LOVE ABOUT WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA

A series of essays....

TAKE A SEAT OVERLOOKING THE POND THAT'S
SURROUNDED BY WILDFLOWERS AND MOUNTAINS....

....as seen through my eyes!

By: Jacqueline E Hughes

Seeking the autumn colors of the trees along the mountains was certainly not one of our main purposes for being in Waynesville, North Carolina this past weekend. Our early October visit predetermined this, I’m sorry to say. Although, there was a bit of color to be seen and appreciated. Relaxation, scenic beauty, a stay in an old log cabin, being with friends, and enjoying life in general met our criteria for this particular adventure.

Thank you Messy Nessy and your ‘cabinet of Chic curiosities,’ a website I’ve enjoyed for quite some time. One of their latest contributions, 13 Things I Found on the Internet Today, includes specific pictures they felt were unique or filled them with genuine curiosity, enough to make a mark on Messy Nessy, anyway, as well as on me!

So, with many pictures taken during our latest trip to Western North Carolina, I’ve decided to share some of them with you  in a similar manner adding my personal twist and/or caption along the way. 

1. The best way to travel, ever....with good friends!

ROAD TRIP PICNIC

2.  With the mountains hugging us and deep, dark shadows greeting us upon arrival, it's nice to have the moon and stars saying, "Good night, sleep tight," as we crawl into bed.

3.  As the sun rises over the mountains in the morning, we're greeted by the mist and fog rolling down the hills like a soft blanket of protection and love. So beautiful! 

MORNING COFFEE ON THE PORCH

4. Reflections on the Pond

5. Boyd Mountain Log Cabins and Tree Farm, Waynesville, North Carolina

6. Collections For the Birds 

7. The foggy, wild side of the Blue Ridge Parkway

8. Taking care of some business while we were there. We're selling our 2.3 acres of land in the mountains just outside of Maggie Valley. Sad to say that our 'log cabin dreams' are no more. Someone else is slated to enjoy our spectacular views!

9. Flora and Fauna?

10. More garden delights at Boyd Mountain Log Cabins

It's always so difficult and emotional when leaving this amazing place. We've stayed in several of their eight cabins throughout the years, each as beautiful and steeped in history as the next. We've shared the Long Branch with our oldest daughter and her husband and the Little Cosby together on a romantic getaway. But, our favorite cabin is the Meadow Fork that sits just above the pond. We have shared it with our then three-year-old granddaughter, Brenna, and Chris, Dan's youngest brother. We've now had the pleasure of sharing the Meadow Fork with Janis and Fred, our friends, who now hold this special place in their hearts, as well.

Next time, I will take you into the Meadow Fork cabin and share a bit of its fabulous history as it was built in the late 1790's in the beautiful Meadow Fork community of Madison County, North Carolina.

PEACE AND TRANQUILITY

Copyright © 2019 by Jacqueline E Hughes

All rights reserved

Photos Copyright © 2019 by Jacqueline E Hughes

All rights reserved

IT'S NEVER TOO LATE

A series of essays....

WHEN THE SUN BOLDLY DIPS INTO THE SEA....
WE WILL REMEMBER TO TURN AND SEE IT MAJESTICALLY
RISE ABOVE THE MOUNTAINS! IT'S NEVER
TOO LATE TO BELIEVE...

....as seen through my eyes!

By: Jacqueline E Hughes

It’s never too late to believe. Apathy is not an option. When you’ve reached the bottom, looking up is the only way to go. The basic philosophy of optimism is the doctrine of the ultimate triumph of good over evil. Are you in or are you out? Change for the better will always be an option when fear is, finally, removed. Have brazen acts of corruption got you down?

With an Impeachment Inquiry finally initiated and Nancy Pelosi’s blessing stamped on their foreheads, the Congressional Committees are gearing-up for some very serious action and looking for results of their efforts before the holiday season of 2019. Adam Schiff, Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, has been a vocal advocate for digging into the highly corrupt actions of ‘45’ long before the Democrats won the majority of the House in 2018. He must be hitting a nerve when ‘45’ is flagging him for treason and removal from Congress.

It’s never too late to learn and to change. Weeding out the corrupt and miserable will require imminent changes to be made with new laws to be formulated, written-up, and executed. We must learn from our ill-founded assumptions of the past...when we naively believed that all presidents (leaders) would follow the unwritten (written) rules and always do and say the right thing. That they were without personal agendas and would serve the people unselfishly and with honor. Like well adjusted adults, we must consider all personal and public aspects about whom we place in positions of power in the future. We will become diligent to a fault. The pendulum will swing from one side to the other until it settles, once again, close enough to the middle to make us feel sufficiently comfortable, adequately safe.

We have been scarred and the lasting effect of fear and other raw emotions will haunt us for a very long time. We have been scared to death by an individual, claiming to be a good businessman and leader, who threatens us with Civil War and such divisiveness that it’s often difficult to think, let alone function normally. He may be an ignorant man with few intellectual words spliced together to form one, cohesive thought, but even these few words have a way of influencing actions, especially among those who find him entertaining and quite different from the stereotypical politician. Physically removing him from the White House may, literally, be one of our biggest challenges yet. 

Apathy is never an option when it comes to life threatening situations. Not voting is one of the keenest forms of apathy. Believing that your single vote makes no difference in the outcome of an election can be a fatal mistake. We must not become the missing link that threatens the strength of our democracy as a whole and undermines the power of positive progression. Our voices must and will be heard. Voting, even in the shadow of gerrymandering, corruption, and fear, is our right as citizens of the United States. We must never forget this.

It’s never too late to believe in the power of appropriate thinking. Remember, what we may perceive as weakness may actually be the greater production of accomplishing goals in the proper manner...following the laws established within the Constitution itself and making them work by and for the people. 

Please remember the lawmakers who have had to fight furiously for our rights mainly because they believe in them and choose to represent us daily in Washington D.C. as our Congressmen and Senators elected by us in order to maintain these rights. They were there fighting for us even when they had no power to fight with within all three branches of government. May we learn to appreciate the men and women who have been working diligently for so long.

Now that the dirty politics of a corrupt administration is being forced to face the music and the ringleader is under microscopic scrutiny while undergoing an impeachment inquiry, we shall see how far his self-aggrandizement style takes ‘45’ on this particular journey! 

It’s never too late to hope for the best. This country has been hit with the worst kind of plague: human greed and corruption. Let’s pick ourselves up by the boot straps, work hard, and believe in the system. Our Forefathers fought to save democracy from the possibility of having maniacs serve  in the White House. It will never be too late to have the likes of Adam Schiff, Jerry Nadler, Maxine Waters, and Elijah Cummings prove the power of the strong democratic and constitutional foundation by which our nation was built upon.

Copyright © 2019 by Jacqueline E Hughes

All rights reserved

Photo Copyright © 2019 by Jacqueline E Hughes

All rights reserved

PRICELESS

A series of essays....

THE HUGHES BOYS (MINUS ONE), TWO GENERATIONS, HAVING FUN! PRICELESS!!!

....as seen through my eyes!

By: Jacqueline E Hughes

To deem any given statement as priceless or to analyze the specific structure of a phrase or group of phrases or objects by the process of a detailed examination of its elements and describe them as priceless is saying that the qualitative value of it goes far beyond the mere knowledge that it exists and on into the realm of what we hold personally and/or collectively near and dear. By describing a group or statement as priceless we are acknowledging the inestimable composition of it to be too precious to be evaluated or fully appreciated. 

Who is truly capable of placing a price or measurable value on someone you love, a specific piece of artwork, your freedom, a place that makes you feel calm and peaceful, or any combination of ideas or events that align like the brilliant night stars to make you understand the potency of individual events that have been examined and then compiled to form a consistent train of thought? The subtle contemplation of these elements combine to fulfill the feeling of harmony and strength that each component offers, but when united, takes our emotions to their greatest heights; a probable and genuinely credible feeling of euphoria.

Many of us believe that our lives become enriched and more valuable by the simple thought of having incalculable monetary, intellectual, or spiritual worth. And, if we work hard enough, plan for them with every particle of our being, and make them the main focus and center of attention, their value will rise far above our original expectations, enriching and enlightening us with priceless rewards for all of our time and effort. If feeling happy and content, being loved, loving others, having enough food on the table and a roof over our heads, and helping others to achieve these same, respectable ideals, complete us....the attainment of these specific and extremely honorable goals bring along their own priceless rewards of contentment and self worth.

Inevitably, we have entered a higher plane of consciousness, of civilization, a plane of peace and acceptance.

WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO
ABOUT PAPA?.....PRICELESS!

Copyright © 2019 by Jacqueline E Hughes

All rights reserved

Photo Copyright © 2019 by Jacqueline E Hughes

All rights reserved